MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Elmira College baseball team traveled to Myrtle Beach, SC for a Monday doubleheader, the first game against the Hornets of Vermont State University Lyndon, and the second against the Knights of Neumann University. The offense continued to score run as the Soaring Eagles grabbed a pair of victories, 14-9 in game one, and 11-1 in game 2.
 
GAME ONE: Soaring Eagles Offense Scores 14 Runs in Victory
The offense got going early for the Soaring Eagles when Kaden Bolt got hit by a pitch and CJ Wheaton reached on an error. Xander Canfield brought home the first run for EC with an infield single, and Brady Buttice drove home another run while reaching on a fielder's choice. Still in the top of the first, Elmira picked up another run on a Jordan Barthel single that drove home Canfield to make it 3-0. In the bottom of the inning the Hornets got runners on 2^nd and 3^rd with one out. Alan Plummer picked up a huge strikeout looking for Elmira to escape the jam and keep the Hornets off the scoreboard. The offensive momentum continued into the second inning for EC as Michael Currao and Bolt started with a pair of singles. Wheaton followed with a double to left to bring home Currao and make it 4-0. Canfield added another run with an RBI groundout, and Buttice followed with a RBI single to right field, making it 6-0 Elmira. Connor Stone brought Buttice home on a sacrifice fly to make it 7-0. Later in the inning Barthel came in to score on a wild pitch to make it 8-0 Soaring Eagles. The Hornets responded with three runs in the bottom of the second cutting the deficit to 8-3. An error and a walk put runners on base for Elmira in the third. Buttice doubled down the left field line driving in both runners and making it 10-3 Elmira. Stone followed up with a single to bring home Buttice and add another run for the Soaring Eagles. The Hornets pushed across two runs in the bottom of the third to make the score 11-5.

Canfield started the fifth inning with a double to left to get into scoring position. Two batters later Stone singled to left field, bringing home Canfield, and giving EC a 12-5 advantage. Later in the inning, a single up the middle by Currao brought Barthel into score Elmira's 13^th run of the game. The Hornets responded in the bottom of the inning, getting the run back, making the score 13-6 headed into the sixth inning. The Soaring Eagles had a scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth but could not push more run across. The Hornets took back the momentum, adding three runs in the seventh inning, making the score 13-9 with two innings to play. The Soaring Eagles loaded the bases with nobody out but failed to score in the eighth. Nate Lowry came into pitch for EC starting the eighth, allowing no runs in the inning. Elmira got some important insurance in the ninth when Nicholas Dinicola hit a sacrifice fly to bring Gabriel Schultz into score. Lowry came back out for the ninth, shutting down the Hornets as Elmira claimed the 14-9 victory.

LEADERS
Offensively Buttice led the way going 3-6, including a double, collecting four RBIs and scoring two runs. Barthel went 3-4, scoring two runs, and tallying an RBI. Canfield was 2-5, with a double, adding two runs scored, and driving home two more. Nate Lowry pitched the final two innings, allowing no runs and just one hit.

GAME TWO: Soaring Eagles Score 11 More, Pitching Shuts Down Neumann
The offense continued the hot start in the second game when Wheaton started the bottom of the first with a double. Buttice was hit by a pitch and Stone singled to load up the bases with Soaring Eagles. An error by the right fielder on a ball hit by Brandon Policar brought the first two runs in for EC. The Knights put two runners in scoring position in the second, but Michael Polsinelli Jr., pitching for EC, picked up a strikeout and groundout to escape the jam with no runs allowed. Momentum continued in the second for Elmira, starting with three consecutive singles by Brenden McGar, Bolt, and Wheaton. Canfield grounded into a double play but brought home a run to make it 3-0 Soaring Eagles. Later in the inning, Bolt scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0 EC. The Knights responded with a solo home run to make it a 4-1 ball game. In the bottom of the third, Barthel launched a solo home run to right field for Elmira's fifth run of the game. The inning continued with a walk to Policar and double in the left field corner by Ben Intili. Back-to-back sacrifice flies by McGar and Bolt brought home both runs and gave EC a 7-1 advantage. Polsinelli continued to be strong on the mound, picking up a pair of strikeouts in the fourth inning to add to his total. Buttice started the offensive half of the fourth for Elmira with a walk. He moved around on a stolen base, wild pitch, and scored on an RBI double into the right center field gap by Barthel.

Polsinelli continued to roll, giving up just the one run through his first six innings of work. Canfield started the bottom of the sixth with a double for the Soaring Eagles. An RBI single through the left side by Buttice drove home Canfield to give Elmira a 9-1 advantage. A few batters later Schultz came into score on a wild pitch for another run. An RBI single to center field by Policar, drove home Barthel and pushed the Soaring Eagles ahead 11-1. Nicholas Miller came into pitch for Elmira in the seventh. The Knights got a couple runners on base but were unable to score, the game ended via run rule, Elmira getting the victory, 11-1.

LEADERS
Barthel led the way offensively, going 3-4 with two doubles and a home run. He also scored twice and collected two RBIs. Wheaton was 2-3 at the plate with a double, tallying a run scored. Buttice was 1-1 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored. Polsinelli pitched six strong innings, allowing just 4 hits, and one run while striking out four.

UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles continue the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, SC with a doubleheader on Tuesday March 2^nd against the Eagles of Saint Elizabeth University. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 1:00 PM.