HORSEHEADS, N.Y. – The Elmira College Softball team picked up an Empire 8 victory with big implications on Thursday afternoon against the Cardinals from St. John Fisher, moving the Soaring Eagles closer to potentially its first Empire 8 Tournament appearance since the 2013 season. With the win, Elmira ended its 14-game drought against the Cardinals which dated back to the 2015 season, while ending St. John Fisher's 10-game win streak.

The afternoon was celebrated accordingly, as the Soaring Eagles honored its Class of 2023 prior to the doubleheader, as Amelia Martin '23, Jillian Cortez '23, and Madison Brown-Bloom '23 were all recognized prior to the game one victory for the Purple & Gold. 

GAME INFORMATION:
SCORE: Elmira 5, Fisher 4 (G1)
               Fisher 13, Elmira 0 (G2; F/5)
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (17-15, 6-6 Empire 8), St. John Fisher (23-11, 10-4 Empire 8)
LOCATION: Horseheads, New York | Holding Point Recreation Complex
W|L|S: M. Sobel (W, 11-7) | J. Patterson  (L, 9-5) | None
              A. Evanetski (W, 6-5) | M. Sobel (L, 11-8) | None

HOW IT HAPPENED:
GAME ONE:

• The Soaring Eagles were quick on offense once again, tabbing two runs against Cardinals starting pitcher Jess Patterson, who came into Thursday after tossing a perfect game just a night ago against Nazareth. In the inning, Elmira worked three hits, but scored a pair on a two-RBI single to centerfield from Brown-Bloom to put EC ahead 2-0. 
• The Cardinals would answer back in the top of the second for two runs of its own, after working a pair of hits while using a Soaring Eagle error to its advantage, knotting the game at 2-2. 
• From there, it would be the Purple & Gold who would score another pair of runs in the bottom of the second against Patterson, doing so without any hits in the frame. After Maryann Sobel '25 got on from a strikeout with a passed ball to lead off the inning, a stolen base followed by walks from Arian Wilcox '25 and Kaitlyn Belmont '24 set the Soaring Eagles up with bases loaded. From there, a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly with Asia Curkendall '25 and Martin at the plate put EC ahead 4-2. 
• Elmira would use three hits, followed by what would go down as a costly throwing error for the Cardinals in order to score another run in the bottom of the third to extend its lead to 5-2.
• After some quiet offensive frames, the Soaring Eagles would find themselves ahead by three going into the final inning of play. Elmira starting pitcher Sobel would allow a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, but would work a lineout to end the game with a pair of runners on to snap Elmira's 14-game losing streak against the Cardinals which dated back to 2015.
• Belmont would finish the game as the lone Soaring Eagle to record a pair of hits, while Brown-Bloom drove in a pair. Sobel would go the distance, firing 7.0 innings where she allowed four runs (all earned), on eight hits, while walking a pair. 

GAME TWO:

• The Soaring Eagles were held to just one hit off the bat of Katie Distefano '24 in game two, a single in the second inning. 
• Sobel would get the ball in game two, going just one inning where she allowed six runs on five hits, while walking a batter. 
• Cortez would come on in relief, going three innings where she allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits, while walking two and striking out one. 
• Madison Lodowski '26 would go the final inning for EC, allowing one run on one hit while walking one. 

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles return to the field on Sunday when heading to take on the Wolves from Keuka College in another Empire 8 doubleheader. First pitch from Keuka Park, New York is set for 1:00 PM.