GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Elmira College softball team concluded their Spring Break roadtrip with a double header at Guilford College. The Soaring Eagles were seen splitting the day and recording their first victory of the season, 8-1. 
 
GAME ONE: SOARING EAGLES LATE RALLY NOT ENOUGH 
Elmira opened the first with a single up the middle from Teona Cruz followed by Sophia Temple with a single down the third base line. With runners in scoring position, EC was unable to push a run across. Guilford was first to strike with a run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 advantage. Both teams were at a stalemate until the bottom of the third when Guilford hit an offensive peak to tack on another two runs (3-0). Elmira quickly retaliated in the top of the fourth, sparked by Sophia Polzella with a double to left field. Jocelyn Jean followed with an RBI single down the left field line to cut the deficit to 3-1. Jean moved into scoring position on a wild pitch followed by a Kendall Curreri walk. A Rachel Lunger hit-by-pitch loaded to bases for Ashlyn VanFleet to rip and RBI single through the 3-4 hole. Hannah Colwill followed suit with a single to the pitcher to tie the game at three apiece. Guilford looked to respond in the bottom of the fourth, Savannah Persun retired two to hold them at bay.

Polzella opened the fifth with a single to center paired with a stolen base to sit in scoring position but was left stranded. Guilford took the advantage after tacking on two more runs on three hits, 5-3. Kristen Cole opened the sixth with a single to right center but was unable to move into scoring position, leaving the Soaring Eagles chasing two. Guilford added another run on two hits in the bottom of the sixth, growing the deficit to three. In their final opportunity, the Soaring Eagles opened the top of the seventh with a walk from Temple. Temple moved into scoring position on a passed ball. A Jean single to right field but runners on the corner, followed by Riley Storrs capitalizing on errors to move one run across and two runners in scoring position. Chasing two, a Curreri single to left field scored two runs to even the contest 6-6. Guilford looked to strike on offense in their final chance and was able to muster a run off three hits, leaving EC to fall 7-6.
 
LEADERS
Offensively, Colwill and Jean both recorded two hits with one RBI while Polzella also recorded two hits with one run. Curreri recorded two RBI's, one walk, and one hit.

Persun pitched four innings, tallying four strikeouts. Shelby Dawe came on in relief and pitched two innings, allowing only five hits. Victoria Bonitz closed out the seventh.
 
GAME TWO: ELMIRA DOMINATES GUILFORD, 8-1 
The Soaring Eagles opened game two with their offense rolling, seeing Colwill open with a walk. Polzella followed with a single up the middle, advancing on the throw, seeing the runners set in scoring position. Cole sent a two RBI double into right center to take the early lead over Guilford. Cruz followed suit with a double down the left field line, seeing Jean score Cruz on a single up the middle for a 3-0 lead at the end of the first. Guilford was held to one hit in the bottom of the first to hold Elmira's 3-0 lead. Hanna Burdick recorded two strikeouts during the bottom of the second to hold Guilford scoreless. The third inning saw Elmira garner two runners in scoring position but were unable to capitalize. Guilford retaliated with their lone run of the game in the bottom of the third off one hit. The top of the fourth saw Polzella double to right field along with a Cole walk. Capitalizing on defensive errors, Cruz reached first and pushed another run across for EC. A wild pitch from Guilford pushed a second run across, elevating Elmira's lead to 5-1. A single down the rightfield line from Temple followed by a Jean two RBI double to right center pushed EC ahead 7-1. A three-up, three-down inning immediately sent Elmira back to the plate.

Both teams were at a stalemate and evenly matched unitl the top of the sixth. The Soaring Eagles sparked the offense with a Cruz single to first followed by Temple reaching on a fielder's choice. Jean recorded a single to the pitcher before Curreri hit an RBI single to right, giving Elmira an 8-1 advantage. Guilford had two opportunities to capitalize but strong defensive efforts behind Burdick secured EC's first victory of the season, 8-1.

LEADERS 
Offensively, Jean was perfect at the plate going 3-3 with three RBI's and one walk. Polzella and Cruz both recorded two hits and two runs apiece. 

Pitcher Burdick threw a complete game, striking out two and only allowing seven hits and one run in 29 batters faced.

UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles remain on the road and head to Scranton, PA to face Marywood University on Saturday, March 21. Game times are set for 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.