HORSEHEADS, N.Y. – The Elmira College softball program team split its Friday night doubleheader with the visiting Tigers from RIT at the Holding Point, taking game one 9-3 before struggling to get the offense in motion in game two, falling 8-1. In the win, MaryAnn Sobel '25 would go the distance, picking up her third win on the campaign while the Purple & Gold offense went for nine hits, including a 3-for-4 effort from Kaitlyn Belmont '24 which included a trio of RBIs.
GAME INFORMATION:
SCORE: Elmira 9, RIT 3 (G1)
RIT 8, Elmira 1 (G2)
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (4-6, 0-0 Empire 8), RIT (1-11-1, 0-0 LL)
LOCATION: Horseheads, New York | Holding Point Recreation Complex
W|L|S: M. Sobel (W, 3-2) | L. Pieri (L, 0-5) | None (G1)
J. Margot (W, 1-2) | M. Lodowski (L, 0-3) | None (G2)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
In game one, the Soaring Eagles wasted little to no time getting on the board against Tiger starting pitcher Lexi Pieri. After Sobel set the Tigers down in order on three groundouts, the Elmira offense went to work, producing four first-inning runs on three hits, with Amelia Martin '23 producing a pair of RBI followed by out-recording RBIs from Bella DeAmelia '24 and Jenna Burns '26.
After another solid inning for Sobel, Elmira would then extend its early lead to seven as the Purple & Gold produced three runs on four hits, as Belmont homered to centerfield with a pair of runners on to extend the EC advantage. In the top of the third, the Tigers would bounce back with a pair of runs of its own, using a pair of hits to its advantage, trimming the EC lead to 7-2.
Sobel would take her good fortunes on the mound to the offensive side, driving in Burns just a half inning later after Burns walked and reached second on a wild pitch, increasing the Elmira lead to 8-2.
Offense for both sides would wrap up in the bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth as RIT scored its third and final run on on a groundout after a batter reached earlier on a double, advancing to third on a wild pitch, while Elmira, who scored in the fourth, earned its run via the wild pitch also, as Belmont score after singling earlier in the inning.
Sobel would wrap up her day going 7.0 IP, allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits, while walking one and striking out six in the 9-3 victory.
In game two, the Tigers would explode for 15 hits in the contest, creating an 8-0 lead after a large sixth inning output where RIT scored six runs on six hits, while taking advantage on an Elmira error. Elmira starting pitcher Madison Lodowski '26 would go 4.0 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out a pair. Jillian Cortez '23 would come on in relief, allowing six runs (all earned) on seven hits over 1.1 innings of work before Sobel came in to finish off the final 1.2 innings of play, allowing just two hits.
Elmira's lone run in the contest came in the sixth inning, as Madison Brown-Bloom '23 singled on the infield to score Asia Curkendall '25, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the frame.
UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles are set to return to the field on Tuesday when hosting the Hawks from Hilbert College in another non-conference doubleheader. First pitch on Tuesday is set for 3:00 PM at the Holding Point before returning the following day against Cazenovia with a 3:00 PM first pitch twin-bill.
