CARY, N.C. – Despite scoring a pair of runs in the first inning and taking an early lead, the Elmira College baseball program yielded seven runs in the fifth inning as the Alfred State Pioneers recorded a 9-2 victory over the Soaring Eagles on Friday night in North Carolina.
 
GAME INFORMATION:
SCORE: Elmira 2, Alfred State 9
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (1-5), Alfred State (3-1)
LOCATION: Cary, North Carolina | USA Baseball National Training Complex
W|L|S: C. Mattoon (2-0) | D. Kruis (L, 0-2) | None

HOW IT HAPPENED:
After Elmira starter David Kruis '23 worked a 1-2-3 top of the first inning on the mound, the Purple & Gold offense worked to produce a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to take an early 2-0 advantage.

Kade Cochran '26 started things off in the frame for the Soaring Eagles with a leadoff double, while Cochran would score in the next at-bat as Matteo Salvati '25 delivered a double of his own to make it 1-0. Following back-to-back outs in the frame, Salvati would score from third on a wild pitch by the Alfred State pitching staff to increase the lead to 2-0 for the Purple & Gold.

Kruis would work out of a jam on the mound for Elmira in the top of the second inning after allowing a pair of hits and a two-out walk. Kruis notched a strikeout to strand the bases loaded and preserve the 2-0 lead for the Soaring Eagles.

The Soaring Eagles would be unable to add to their lead after stranding a pair of runners on base in both the third and fourth inning against the Pioneers. Elmira would get two quick outs to open the fifth inning defensively before eight consecutive batters would reach base for Alfred State. The Pioneers would plate seven runs in the frame off four hits to take a 7-2 advantage over the Soaring Eagles.

Alfred State would add two more runs to its advantage in the top of the eighth inning to extend the lead to 9-2. The Soaring Eagles had several chances to attempt to rally in the contest but would strand 11 runners on base against the Pioneers.

Kruis suffered his second loss of the season for Elmira after allowing seven runs off five hits through 4.2 innings of work. Kruis added six strikeouts in the contest while issuing three walks. Matthew Schultz '26 worked 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Elmira, while Jack Finnerty '23 and Cochran also worked out of the bullpen. Salvati finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and one walk for Elmira, while Brett Warden '25 finished 1-for-3 with a pair of walks.
 
UP NEXT:
The Purple & Gold return to the field for a three-game series against Capital University on March 10-11 in Bowie, Maryland.