HORSEHEADS, N.Y. – The Elmira College baseball team hosted the Golden Eagles of SUNY Brockport for a Friday afternoon conference matchup at the Holding Point Recreation Center. The Soaring Eagles hit three homers, but it wasn't enough as they fell to SUNY Brockport, 19-13.

PLAY-BY-PLAY
Michael Polsinelli Jr. worked a strong first two innings for the Soaring Eagles on the mound. He allowed a pair of singles but kept things clean with some groundballs and help from a caught stealing. Xander Canfield started the second inning by hitting the first pitch down the left field line for a double. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI groundball by Michael Currao to give EC a 1-0 advantage. The Golden Eagles responded with eight runs in the top of the third to put themselves in front 8-1. Kaden Bolt drew a one out walk to get EC a baserunner and moved into scoring position on a throwing error. Bolt moved to third on a groundball and scored on a wild pitch that barely got away from the catcher, showing off his speed. The next batter, Brady Buttice, sent a ball right back up the middle for hard hit single. Connor Stone followed up with a single to left field, moving Buttice to third, and moving up to second himself on the throw. Canfield continued the momentum with a double into center field, bringing both Buttice and Stone across to score and cutting the deficit to 8-4. The Golden Eagles answered back with five runs in the fourth inning to take a 13-4 advantage.

Sean Deaner picked up a single in the bottom of the fourth, but Elmira was unable to push any runs across the plate. SUNY Brockport added two more runs in the fifth to push themselves in front 15-4. Buttice started the bottom of the inning by reaching on an error. Stone followed by launching the ball over the left field fence for his fourth home run of the season making the score 15-6. Two batters later, CJ Wheaton singled up the middle on a groundball to give Elmira another base runner. Currao followed up by sending a pitch over the wall in straight away center for his first collegiate home run. The homer by Currao brought the Soaring Eagles within seven runs, making the score 15-8. EC got two more base runners after a walk to Bobby Cavalier and a hit by pitch to Bolt. Dinicola continued the inning with his first collegiate home run, this one over the left field fence and cutting the Brockport advantage to 17-11. The Golden Eagles answered back with two additional runs in the top of the sixth to give them a 17-11 advantage. Canfield reached base on an error to start the bottom of the inning and Wheaton followed with a single to put runners on first and second. Despite this Elmira was unable to add any runs in the inning, still trailing by six entering the seventh. The Golden Eagles threatened in the seventh with two base runners, but Matthew Schultz picked up a strikeout to escape the jam. Buttice started the bottom of the eighth with a walk to give EC some momentum. Wheaton walked later in the inning to put two runners on base. Currao grounded a sharp single to left field to bring Buttice into score. The left fielder made an error on the play that also allowed Wheaton to cross the plate. These two runs cut the Golden Eagles advantage to 17-13 in the eighth inning. Brockport added two more insurance runs in the ninth to go ahead by six runs entering the last chance for EC. The Soaring Eagles could not manage anything in the ninth, falling in this one 19-13.

LEADERS
Offensively, Currao led the way, going 2-5 at the plate with a home run, while scoring a run and driving home five. Wheaton went 2-2 at the dish with a pair of runs scored and a pair of walks. Stone picked up two hits in five at-bats, tallying a pair of runs scored and recording two RBIs.
 
UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles return to action for a doubleheader and the remaining two games of the series against the Golden Eagles of SUNY Brockport on Saturday, April 4^th at the Holding Point Recreation Center. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 12:00 PM.