ALFRED, N.Y. – The Elmira College softball team traveled to Alfred, NY for a Friday doubleheader against the Saxons of Alfred University. The Soaring Eagles fought hard but fell in two contests against Alfred University, 9-7 and 4-0.
GAME ONE: Soaring Eagles Erase Deficit, Fall Late in Game One Against Alfred
Sophia Polzella opened the game with a single but was left on base in the opening frame. The Saxons opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take the early advantage. Alfred added two more runs in the second, pushing their advantage to 5-0.
Olivia Roccabruna got hit a pitch to start momentum for Elmira in the third. Polzella followed that up with a double to left field that put runners on second and third.
Kendall Curreri immediately continued the rally with a single through the right side that brought
Olivia Ross, who pinch-ran for Roccabruna, and Polzella into score and cut the deficit to 5-2.
Sophia Temple singled right after to put two more runners on base for EC. A walk to
Hannah Colwill loaded up the bases with Soaring Eagles and nobody out.
Teona Cruz singled up the middle as the next batter, bringing Curreri and Temple across to score, and making it a one run ball game. Two batters later,
Brooke Eastman doubled to center field and brought Colwill across to score, evening up the match at five. The Saxons responded with two runs in the bottom of the third to pull back in front 7-5.
Alfred added another run in the fourth inning, putting themselves ahead by three runs. Cruz singled to right to get things started in the fifth. Two batters Eastman singled through the left side to put a pair of runners on base.
Jordyn Frantz continued momentum with a single down the left field line that loaded up the bases with Soaring Eagles. Despite the threat, Elmira was unable to push any runs across in the inning and still trailed midway through the fifth. The Saxons added another run in the fifth inning, putting themselves in front 9-5. Polzella opened the sixth inning with a single and it was followed by a walk to Curreri to put the first two runners on in the inning for EC. Two batters later, Colwill singled to once again load the bases up with Soaring Eagles. Cruz followed up with a walk to force Polzella into score and cut the deficit to 9-6. Two batters later, Eastman reached on an error that allowed Colwill to score and cut the deficit to two runs. Polzella and Curreri both walked to put the tying runs on base with one out in the final inning of play. The Soaring Eagles could not get the runners around to score, the Saxons closing this one out, Elmira falling 9-7.
LEADERS
Offensively, Polzella led the way, going 3-4 at the plate, drawing a walk, and picking up two runs scored. Curreri recorded two hits in two at-bats while picking up two walks, two RBIs, and added a run scored to her total. Cruz went 2-2 at the dish, notching two walks and tallying three RBIs.
GAME TWO: Soaring Eagles Drop Game Two to Alfred
Cruz walked with one out in the top of the second to try and get things going for EC. She would be left stranded on base as Elmira could not push any runs across. The Saxons broke the scoreless tie by tallying three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-0 advantage. Frantz started the third with a walk and it was followed with a walk to
Ashlyn VanFleet to put two runners on for EC. Polzella continued the momentum with a single to load up the bases with Soaring Eagles. Despite the threat, Elmira could not push any runs across in the inning and still trailed by three runs. The Saxons threatened again in the third, loading up the bases with two outs and looking to add more. Savannah Purson was able to get the next batter to popout and escape the jam, keeping the deficit at three. Alfred added another run in the fourth inning, pushing their advantage to 4-0. Frantz and VanFleet opened the fifth inning with singles to right and left center respectively, to put some runners on base for EC. Both runners would be left stranded as Elmira could not cut into the deficit in the inning. The Soaring Eagles tried to rally but Alfred would close out this contest, Elmira falling in this one 4-0.
LEADERS
Offensively, VanFleet led the way, recording a hit in her only at-bat. Frantz notched a single in two at-bats and drew a walk. Polzella added a hit to her total, going 1-3 at the plate.
UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles return to action for senior day and a conference doubleheader against the Highlanders of Houghton University on Monday April 27
th at the Holding Point Recreation Center. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 2:30 PM.
