WILLIAMSPORT, PA. – The Elmira College softball program recorded its first win of the season on Monday afternoon as the Soaring Eagles split both ends of a doubleheader against Penn College. The Soaring Eagles were victorious in game one by a score of 2-1 before being shutout 1-0 in the second game.
GAME INFORMATION:
SCORE: Elmira 2, Penn College 1 (Game One)
Elmira 0, Penn College 1 (Game Two)
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (1-5), Penn College (4-4)
LOCATION: Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Elm Park
W|L|S: M. Sobel (W, 1-2) | M. Weaver (L, 2-3) | None (Game One)
K. Benner (W, 2-1) | J. Cortez (L, 0-1) | None (Game Two)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The scoring in game one wouldn't come until the top of the fourth inning as it would be Elmira that would strike first.
Kaitlyn Belmont '24 opened the fourth inning with a walk before Penn College would notch back-to-back strikeouts. Belmont would work herself into scoring position via a stolen base with
Madison Brown-Bloom '23 at the plate. Brown-Bloom would give Elmira a 1-0 lead on a fielding error by the right fielder as Belmont touched home on the play for the Soaring Eagles.
Elmira would keep the offense going in the top of the fifth inning as each of the first three batters for the Purple & Gold reached base. The starting pitcher for EC,
Maryann Sobel '25, opened the frame with a single and would be followed by
Arian Wilcox '25 reaching first on an error by the pitcher. Sobel would score to increase the Soaring Eagles' lead to 2-0 as
Bella DeAmelia '24 reached on an error by the shortstop to extend the inning.
Penn College got its offense going in the bottom of the sixth inning with back-to-back singles against Sobel. With the bases loaded, the Wildcats trimmed the deficit to 2-1 as a fielder's choice groundout allowed the runner from third to score. Sobel and the Soaring Eagles would get out of the inning with consecutive infield groundouts to strand a pair of runners on base.
The Wildcats put a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the seventh inning and would eventually get both into scoring position with one out. Sobel and the EC defense responded with a strikeout and a flyout to left field to end the game and secure the 2-1 victory. Sobel allowed six hits over seven innings of work for Elmira while recording four strikeouts and one walk.
The lone run of game two would be scored by Penn College in the bottom of the fifth inning against Elmira starter
Jillian Cortez '23. The Wildcats opened the frame with a leadoff double and moved the runner to third following a sacrifice bunt. A deep flyball to left field allowed the runner to score and make it a 1-0 contest.
Elmira had a pair of innings where it stranded two runners on base in the contest as the first would be in the top of the fifth. Cortez opened the inning by reaching on an error by the shortstop before Brown-Bloom worked a one-out walk. A fielder's choice and a strikeout would thwart a rally for the Soaring Eagles in the frame. Down to their final at-bats in the seventh inning, the Soaring Eagles would get back-to-back singles from Martin and Brown-Bloom. Penn College secured the 1-0 victory with an infield groundout followed by a strikeout to strand both runners on base.
UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles turn their attention to the home slate of their schedule as Elmira is scheduled to host Alfred State for a mid-week non-conference doubleheader at the Holding Point Recreation Complex.
