HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The Elmira College baseball team traveled to Houghton, NY for a conference doubleheader against the Highlanders of Houghton University Friday afternoon. The Soaring Eagles rallied late in game one but ultimately fell in both games of the doubleheader against Houghton, 6-5 and 9-8.
 
GAME ONE: Soaring Eagles Rally in Ninth but Come Up Short Against Houghton
Kaden Bolt got hit by a pitch to get things started for EC and it was immediately followed with a single to right field by Xander Canfield to put two runners on. A walk to Jordan Barthel loaded the bases with Soaring Eagles but they could not push any runs across in the inning. The Highlanders got the scoring started with two runs in the bottom of the first to take the early advantage. Sean Deaner singled to start the second and two batters later Michael Currao singled to put two runners on. Canfield walked to load the bases once again, but Elmira could not get on the scoreboard and remained down by two. Connor Stone started the third inning with a walk and Brady Buttice followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Barthel walked to once again load the bases up with Soaring Eagles. CJ Wheaton hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Stone and cut the deficit in half. Buttice came into score on a wild pitch and evened up the contest at two. Deaner continued momentum by sending a double out to center field and driving Barthel into score, giving EC the advantage 3-2. The Highlanders responded in the bottom of the frame, scoring a run and tying up the match at three.
 
The Highlanders added another run in the fourth inning, putting themselves back in front 4-3. Elmira got the offense started again with a single to right by Wheaton and a walk to Deaner with one out in the fifth. The Soaring Eagles were unable to get any runs across in the fifth as they still trailed by one. Stone and Buttice were both hit by pitches with two outs in the fifth inning as EC tried to start a two-out rally. An error on a ground ball hit by Barthel allowed Stone to score and even up the game at four. The Highlanders tallied a run in the seventh inning to retake the advantage 5-4. With two outs in the ninth inning Deaner launched a home run to right field that tied up the game at five. The Highlanders rallied in the ninth inning, scoring a run to walk off the game, Elmira falling in this one 6-5.
 
LEADERS
Offensively, Deaner led the way, going 3-4 at the plate with a double and a home run, while tallying a pair of RBIs and notching a run scored. Canfield picked up two singles in four at-bats and drew a walk. Wheaton went 1-4 at the dish with a run scored during the contest.

GAME TWO: Soaring Eagles Rally Falls Just Short in Game Two Against Houghton
The Highlanders started the scoring in this one, putting five runs on the scoreboard in the first inning of play. Houghton picked up a one out double to threaten again in the second inning. Brennan Goin was able to get a popout and a groundout to escape the jam and keep the deficit where it was. After Buttice reached on an error, Deaner singled up the middle to put a pair of runners on base with two outs for EC. Barthel was hit by a pitch to load up the bases with Soaring Eagles, but the runners would be left stranded as Elmira could not get any runs across in the inning. Houghton added another run to their total in the fourth inning, extending their advantage to 6-0. After Benjamin Intili reached on an error in the fifth, Bolt doubled down the left field line, putting two runners in scoring position for EC. Canfield followed that up with a single to right field, bringing both Intili and Bolt across to score and cut the deficit to 7-2. Three batters later, Deaner notched an infield single, allowing Canfield to cross the plate to score Elmira's third run of the contest.

The Highlanders scored two more runs in the sixth inning to extend their advantage to 9-3. Houghton threatened to score more runs in the seventh when they put two runners on base but a couple strikeouts from Devin Sullivan got the Soaring Eagles out of the jam and kept the score where it was. Elmira got things started in the eighth inning with consecutive walks to Deaner and Barthel. The momentum was halted as Elmira could not get any runs across in the inning. The Highlanders loaded the bases again in the bottom of the inning, but Darion Rodriguez got Elmira out of the jam, keeping the score the same heading into the final inning. Bolt started the final inning with a single to get momentum going for EC. It was immediately followed by Canfield picking up a single to left and a Brenden McGar walk to load the bases for EC. Buttice was hit by a pitch, forcing Bolt into score and cutting the deficit 9-4. Deaner followed with an infield single, driving Canfield into score the fifth run of the game for EC. Barthel followed with a sacrifice fly to right that drove McGar into score and made it a 9-6 ball game. Two batters later Bobby Cavalier was hit by a pitch to reload the bases with Soaring Eagles. A wild pitch brought Buttice into score a run and moved the tying runs into scoring position for Elmira. Gabriel Schultz came into score on a balk to cut the deficit to one run and put the tying run on third base. Then Highlanders closed out the contest, the Soaring Eagles falling in this one 9-8.
 
 
LEADERS
Offensively, Deaner led the way for the Soaring Eagles, going 3-4 at the plate, and picking up a pair of RBIs. Canfield recorded three hits in five at-bats, tallying an RBI, and notching a pair of runs scored. Bolt picked up two hits in the contest while scoring a pair of runs.
 
UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles return to action on Monday April 24^th for the series finale against the Highlanders of Houghton University in Houghton, NY. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM.