HORSEHEADS, N.Y. – The Elmira College Softball team split headed into the Easter break on Saturday by splitting its Empire doubleheader against the visiting Pioneers from Utica University. The Pioneers, who entered today 2-0 in Empire 8, were handed its first loss in conference by the Soaring Eagles, who used a 5-3 victory in game two after being led offensively by Amelia Martin '23, who finished the game going 3-for-3 with a trio of RBIs, including her third home run in the last four games. 

Madison Lodowski '26 would earn her second victory of the season on the mound after going 5.2 innings where she allowed just three runs, while Jill Cortez '23 would come on for the final 1.1, earning the save after allowing just one hit. 

GAME INFORMATION:
SCORE: Utica 6, Elmira 3 (G1)
                  Elmira 5, Utica 3 (G2)
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (9-11, 2-2 Empire 8), Utica (12-6, 3-1 Empire 8)
LOCATION: Horseheads, New York | Holding Point Recreation Complex
W|L|S: J. Conte (W, 4-1) | M. Sobel (L, 5-5) | None (G1)
              M. Lodowski (W, 2-5) | K. Murray (L, 3-2) | J. Cortez (1)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

GAME ONE:

• The Soaring Eagles would find themselves held hitless through the first 3.1 innings before Kaitlyn Belmont '24 got the Soaring Eagles into the hit column with an infield single.
• Elmira would plate a run to trim its deficit to just 3-1 just two batters later after a single from Martin, which got past the left fielder, allowed for Belmont to score from first for Elmira's first run of the afternoon.
• Utica would answer with three of its own in the top of the fifth, using four hits to its advantage against Elmira starting pitcher Maryann Sobel '25 to extend its lead to five, making the score 6-1. 
• In the bottom half of the fifth, Conte would set the first two Soaring Eagles down before Hannah Flagg '24 worked a walk. After a single from Arian Wilcox '25, Asia Curkendall '25 would triple to centerfield, scoring Flagg and Wilcox to cut Elmira's deficit to three, where the offense would eventually end for both teams, sending Utica away with a 6-3 victory in game one. 
• Sobel would toss 5.2 innings, allowing six runs (all earned) on nine hits, while walking one and striking out one. Cortez would come on in relief, going 1.1 innings where she struck out three and walked two. 

GAME TWO:

• After a clean first inning on defense for both squads, Utica would strike first against Elmira starting pitcher Madison Lodowski '26 after a pair of singles and a wild pitch brought home the games' first run. 
• The Soaring Eagles would immediately answer in its next at-bat, as Martin lifted her third home run in the past four games to left field, knotting the score at 1-1. 
• The Soaring Eagles would eventually take the lead in the third, working two-out magic with Natalie Tom '25 on second base, as consecutive walks from Belmont and Madison Brown-Bloom '23 set the Soaring Eagles up for a Martin single, which scored Tom and pushed EC ahead 2-1. 
• Offense would go quiet in the fourth before the Soaring Eagles added a trio of insurance runs in the fifth to extend its lead to 5-1. In the inning, Elmira would use three hits and a catcher's interference to its advantage, as Martin, Katie Distafano '24, and Cortez each drove home runs. 
• Utica would answer for two in the sixth to trim EC's lead to just a pair, chasing Lodowski from the contest. She finished going 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out a pair. 
• Cortez would come on to earn her first save of the season over 1.1 innings where she allowed just one hit. 

UP NEXT:
Elmira will return to the field on April 15 when heading to Medaille University for another Empire 8 doubleheader. First pitch from Buffalo, New York is set for 3:00 PM.