PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The Elmira College Softball team split its non-conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon against Empire 8 opponent, Nazareth. After falling in game one in which the Golden Flyers walked it off in the ninth inning, the Soaring Eagles went on to shutout the home team in the second game of the twin bill.
The pitching trio of MaryAnn Sobel '25, Jillian Cortez '23, and Ally Barr '21 would allow just three hits during the second game, while Cortez earned the win in the circle after 2.1 innings of one-hit ball. Barr would record the save in game two, her second of the season, after 2.0 innings of perfect pitching.
Katie Distefano '24 finished the day with three hits, including her first home run of the season and the third of her career.
GAME INFORMATION:
SCORE: Elmira 5, Nazareth 6 (Game One, FINAL/9)
Elmira 6, Nazareth 0 (Game Two)
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (14-15, 5-9 E8), Nazareth (17-17, 8-6 E8)
LOCATION: Pittsford, New York | Softball Field
W|L|S: Emily Daciw (7-6) | Ally Barr (5-5) | None (Game One)
Jillian Cortez (3-6) | Maddie Funk (5-9) | Ally Barr (2) (Game Two)
KEY MOMENT:
In game one, seven innings would not be enough to declare a winner as the game headed to extra innings tied at 4-4. In the ninth, the Soaring Eagles would claim its first lead of the afternoon after Distefano crossed home plate on a passed ball. In the bottom half, Nazareth would need just three batters to win the game as with a pair of runners on the corners, Marissa Berghorn would double down the left field line to bring home a pair and take a 6-5 victory.
In game two, the Soaring Eagles used strong pitching from each of its three pitchers, using multi-run frames in the third and fourth innings in route to a 6-0 victory. Just two of the Soaring Eagle runs were scored on hits, as Elmira used three Nazareth errors to its advantage and a pair of RBI ground outs to secure the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After a scoreless two and a half innings in game one, the Golden Flyers would go on to score four runs in the bottom of the third inning against Elmira starting pitcher MaryAnn Sobel. After a pair of hits to open the inning, Barr would retire the next two batters as the Flyers had a pair of runners in scoring position with two outs. From there, three straight base hits and a double-steal which brought a runner home gave Nazareth an early 4-0 advantage.
From there, the Soaring Eagles would score a run in the top of the fifth inning after Distefano connected for her first home run of the season to trim the Elmira deficit to 4-1. Barr came on in relief of Sobel after 4.0 innings of work where she allowed four runs (all earned) on six hits. Looking for a last effort comeback, the Soaring Eagles would plate three runs in the top of the seventh inning to send the game to extras.
In the inning, Elmira would have each of its first four batters reach base safely, including RBI doubles from Alexis Dinga '22 and Distefano to trim the EC deficit to 4-3. With one away, Arian Wilcox '25 would ground out to second base, bringing home Distefano to tie the game at 4-4.
In the ninth, the Soaring Eagles would claim its first lead of the afternoon after Distefano crossed home plate on a passed ball. In the bottom half, Nazareth would need just three batters to win the game as with a pair of runners on the corners, Marissa Berghorn would double down the left field line to bring home a pair and take a 6-5 victory.
In game two, dominant pitching saw the Soaring Eagles take a 6-0 victory as Barr, Sobel, and Cortez combined to allow just three hits in the Elmira shutout victory.
EC got the scoring started in the third inning after Felicity Brockhuizen '22 reached on an error by Nazareth which brought home Distefano for the games' first run. From there, the Soaring Eagles would go on to score another run in the frame, as Tiante Murray '25 grounded out to second which brought home Brockhuizen with one out. In the fourth, Elmira would plate another pair of runs after Madison Brown-Bloom '23 and Cortez starting the inning with a pair of hits. Later on, Distefano would bring home Brown-Bloom on a groundout to second base, while Dinga singled home Cortez to put EC ahead 4-0.
The scoring would be capped in the fifth and sixth innings after Wilcox singled home a run, and Alex Brockhuizen '22 reached on an error which scored Hannah Flagg '23.
UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles wrap up the season and return to the field on Monday as they head to Keuka Park, New York to take on the Wolves from Keuka College. First pitch is set for 3:00 PM.
