HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The Elmira College baseball team traveled to Houghton, NY for a conference matchup against the Highlanders of Houghton University Monday evening. The Soaring Eagles put 18 runs on the board as they picked up a conference victory over Houghton 18-15.

PLAY-BY-PLAY
Kaden Bolt started the game off by getting hit by a pitch and stole second during the following at-bat to get into scoring position. Two batters later, a sacrifice fly from Xander Canfield drove Bolt into score and put the Soaring Eagles in front early. The Highlanders threatened with two runners on in the bottom of the inning but Ryan Wiser got a lineout to get out of the jam. CJ Wheaton started off the top of the third by getting hit by a pitch to get momentum going. It was followed by Bolt picking up an infield single and Jordan Barthel sending a single out to right field to load up the bases with Soaring Eagles. Canfield added an infield single to his total, driving Wheaton into score and extending the EC advantage to 2-0. Brady Buttice grounded into a fielder's choice and brought Bolt across to score to give Elmira a 3-0 advantage. Barthel came around to score later in the inning to push the Elmira advantage to 4-0. The Highlanders responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning to take away the advantage 5-4. Michael Currao opened the fourth with a walk and Brandon Policar followed up with an infield single. A walk to Wheaton loaded up the bases with Soaring Eagles. A walk to Bobby Cavalier forced Currao across to score and even up the contest at five. Brandon Policar scored the sixth run of the game for EC on a wild pitch. Barthel hit a sacrifice fly to left field and Wheaton crossed the plate to give the Soaring Eagles a 7-5 advantage. A wild pitch brought Cavalier across the plate as the Soaring Eagles added another run to their total. The Highlanders answered back with five more runs to put themselves back in front 10-8. Connor Stone started the top of the fifth by getting hit by a pitch and Currao continued momentum with a single to left. Policar followed that with a double to left field that brought Stone into score and cut the deficit to 10-9. Wheaton walked to keep the line moving and load up the bases with Soaring Eagles. Momentum for EC continued with a single to left field by Cavalier, and an error in the field drove Wheaton, Policar, and Currao into score and gave Elmira a 12-10 advantage. Barthel sent a single out to left field that brought Cavalier across to score and extend the advantage to three runs.

Houghton responded with another four runs in the bottom of the fifth to put themselves back in front 14-13. The Highlanders added another run in the sixth inning to extend the advantage to 15-13. Canfield opened the seventh with a walk for EC and Devin Sullivan followed up with an infield single to put two runners on. Sean Deaner drew a walk to load up the bases with Soaring Eagles. Stone followed up by sending a double out to center field to bring Canfield and Sullivan across to score and tie up the contest at 15. The Highlanders put the go-ahead run on third base with one out in the seventh inning, but Matthew Schultz picked up a strikeout and a flyout to get EC out of the jam with the game tied. Cavalier doubled to get things started in the eighth inning as Elmira tried to pull back ahead. Barthel followed up with an infield single and Canfield walked to load the bases with Soaring Eagles. Sullivan hit a sacrifice fly to bring Cavalier across to score and give Elmira the advantage back 16-15. Barthel scored the 17^th run of the game for EC on a wild pitch a few pitches later. A few batters later, Stone singled to bring Canfield into score and give the Soaring Eagles an 18-15 advantage. Michael Polsinelli Jr. came in to pitch in the ninth and closed out the game, picking up the save, the Soaring Eagles winning this one 18-15.

LEADERS
Offensively, Stone led the way, going 3-4 at the plate with a double, picking up a run scored, and tallying three RBIs. Cavalier picked up two hits at the plate while notching four RBIs and recording three runs scored. Barthel collected three hits in six at-bats with two RBIs and two runs scored.

UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles are back in action on Wednesday April 29^th as they travel to Keuka Park, NY for a conference matchup with the Wolves of Keuka College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM.