HORSEHEADS, N.Y. – The Elmira College softball team hosted SUNY Brockport at the Holding Point Complex for their Empire 8 conference opener. The Soaring Eagles put up a fight but dropped the doubleheader 2-0 and 1-0.
 
GAME ONE: Soaring Eagles Fall Short, 2-0
In game one, Brockport hit the board in the top of the first for a one-run advantage. The Soaring Eagles looked to respond, sparking the bottom of the first with a walk from Hannah Colwill followed by a stolen base. Sophia Polzella also recorded a walk, but the two were left stranded. The bottom of the second saw Rachel Lunger and Ashlyn VanFleet display strong plate discipline to award another pair of Elmira base runners but were left in scoring position. Teona Cruz looked to spark the offensive rally in the bottom of the third with a line drive single to right field. A couple of Elmira players looked to spark the offensive momentum throughout game but was simply not enough.
 
Both teams were evenly matched battling a pitcher's duel through the sixth inning. Shelby Dawe was in the circle for Elmira, going the distance with one strikeout and allowing only seven hits. She helped serve up 19 routine plays for the EC defense, keeping them within reaching grasp of the Eagles. However, the Soaring Eagles were unable to recapture the lead and ended up falling short in game one 2-0.

LEADERS
Offensively, Curz recorded the Soaring Eagles only hit of the game while going 1-3. Colwill recorded two walks.

GAME TWO: EC Late Rally Not Enough, Dropping Game Two 1-0
Brockport once again took the edge over the Soaring Eagles in the top of the first with a solo blast to center field. Elmira turned around and opened the bottom of the first with a Kendall Curreri walk paired with a stolen base. Curreri was left stranded on second as Elmira could not push her across the plate. Colwill looked to respark the momentum as she drew a walk in the bottom of the third, but to no avail the Soaring Eagles remained scoreless. EC looked to marked another opportunity in the bottom of the fifth, seeing a bases loaded situation but were unable to muster a run. 
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Jenna Burns led off with a single to shortstop. Colwill laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Jordyn Frantz into scoring position. Jean knocked a hard-hit line drive into right field, which was unfortunately caught, to end Elmira's rally. In the bottom of the seventh, Elmira was down to their final opportunity. Back-to-back walks gave Elmira the tying run on base but ultimately dropped game two, 1-0.

LEADERS 
Offensively, Kristen Cole and Burns recorded one hit apiece going 1-2. Cole recorded a walk alongside Curreri and Polzella. Pitcher Savannah Persun went the distance, recording three strikeouts and only allowing four hits. 

UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles remain at the holding point as they host Alfred State College on Thursday, April 2. Game times are slated for 2:00 and 4:00 PM.