MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Elmira College baseball team traveled to Myrtle Beach, SC for a Thursday doubleheader against the Pilgrams of New England College as part of the Ripken Experience. Elmira homered twice in both games of the doubleheader sweep over New England College, winning 13-3 and 6-4.
 
GAME ONE: Soaring Eagles Homer Twice in Win Over New England College
The Soaring Eagles got things started in the bottom of the first when Kaden Bolt got hit by a pitch and then stole second a few pitches later. Bolt stole third base on the next pitch and scored on a throwing error by the catcher to put Elmira on the board first. A few batters later, Connor Stone crushed a ball over the left field wall for a solo home run, extending the advantage to 2-0 EC. Xander Canfield on the mound for Elmira, limited Pilgram baserunners through two innings, picking up a pair of strikeouts as well. The Pilgrams pushed across three runs in the third inning to pull ahead 3-2. The Soaring Eagles offense opened the bottom of the third with back-to-back singles by Bobby Cavalier and Bolt. Two batters later Jordan Barthel launched a ball over the right field fence for a three-run homerun, giving EC the advantage back 5-3. The Pilgrams got a runner to third base in the fourth but was stranded as Canfield got out of the jam.

Canfield worked a clean inning for EC in the fifth, keeping the momentum in the Soaring Eagles favor. Bolt singled with one out in the bottom of the fifth and CJ Wheaton immediately followed with a double. Bolt brought home the sixth run of the game for Elmira on a balk. Barthel continued the offensive momentum with a double down the left field line that brought Wheaton around to score, extending the advantage to 7-3. Barthel came around to score the Soaring Eagles eighth run of the game on an error by the center fielder. Later in the inning Sean Deaner lined a double down the right field line to bring home Stone and make the score 9-3 Elmira. Brandon Policar followed by lining the next pitch up the middle for a single, bringing Canfield and Deaner across to score, pushing the EC advantage to 11-3. The Pilgrams started the sixth inning with a double, but Canfield stranded the runner on base, picking up another strikeout during the inning. EC got started in the bottom of the sixth with two consecutive walks to Wheaton and Barthel. Stone immediately followed with a single to left field that brought Wheaton into score. Michael Currao continued the momentum with a single up the middle to load the bases. Nicholas Dinicola grounded into a fielder's choice that brought Stone into score, making the score 13-3 EC. Matthew Schultz pitched the seventh for Elmira, closing out the game, Elmira claiming the victory in this one 13-3.

LEADERS
Offensively, Stone led the way, going 3-4 with a home run, driving home two runs and scoring twice. Barthel went 2-3 with a home run, four RBI's and tallied three runs scored. Bolt recorded a pair of hits, a pair of stolen bases and scored three times. Cavalier tallied two hits and notched a run scored. Canfield pitched six innings, allowing three hits and three runs, while striking out three.

GAME TWO: Soaring Eagles Score Six in Victory Over New England College
Bolt got this game started with a bang, launching the first pitch of the game over the left field fence for a home run. Barthel crushed the second pitch of the game over the center field fence for back-to-back home runs and an early 2-0 lead for EC. Later in the inning, Wheaton doubled into left center that brought home Brady Buttice, who was hit by a pitch to reach base, to score and give Elmira a 3-0 advantage. Alex Dinicola singled with one out in the second and Bolt followed that up with a double to left that put both runners in scoring position. A long sacrifice fly from Barthel, brought Dinicola into score and made it 4-0 Soaring Eagles. The Pilgrams responded with a run in the bottom of the inning. Dinicola reached second on an error with two outs in the fourth inning. Bolt followed that with a single to left to drive Dinicola home and gave Elmira a 5-1 advantage.

The Pilgrams answered back again with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 5-3. Nicholas Miller came in and picked up a pair of huge strikeouts to strand the bases loaded and keep EC in front. The Soaring Eagles had a scoring opportunity in the fifth when Buttice reached on an error and Wheaton hit a two out double down the line to put two runners in scoring position. The runners were left stranded after a fly out ended the inning. Miller worked a clean inning in the fifth, picking up another strikeout. Miller kept the Pilgrams off the scoreboard again in the sixth, stranding another runner in scoring position. Elmira got started in the seventh with Buttice getting hit by a pitch and a walk to Stone, putting two runners on base. Wheaton grounded into a fielder's choice to bring Buttice into score and provide a key insurance run for the Soaring Eagles. Miller worked his way through the seventh, closing out the game and earning the save, Elmira winning 6-4.

LEADERS
Offensively, Bolt let the way, going 3-4 with a double and a home run. He drove home two runs and scored one himself. Wheaton went 2-4 with a pair of doubles and tallied two RBIs. Dinicola went 1-3 while scoring two runs. Miller pitched 3 2/3 innings, earning the save, allowing one run and just three hits while striking out four.

UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles conclude the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, SC with a matchup against the Roos of SUNY Canton on Saturday March 6^th. First pitch for is scheduled for 10:00 AM.