SOUTHERN TIER SPORTS REPORTHORSEHEADS, N.Y. – The Elmira College baseball team hosted the Saxons of Alfred University for a conference matchup at the Holding Point Recreation Complex on Tuesday afternoon. The Soaring Eagles offense put up 13 runs to help get the conference victory against Alfred University, 13-7.
Edison’s Ashton Colunio started and hit cleanup for Alfred. He was 1-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
The Saxons opened the game with a run in the first inning. Alfred had two more runners on base, but Lucas Kraft picked up a strikeout and got a fly out to help EC escape the jam. Kaden Bolt started the bottom of the inning with a double to left field and Xander Canfield got hit by the first pitch to put two runners on. Connor Stone grounded a base hit to left field, bringing Bolt around to score and evening up the game at one. Buttice was then hit by a pitch, loading up the bases with Soaring Eagles.
A walk to Jordan Barthel forced Canfield into score and gave Elmira a 2-1 advantage. CJ Wheaton picked up an RBI on a groundout when Stone crossed the plate for Elmira's third run of the contest. A walk to Alex Dinicola loaded up the bases before Michael Currao singled up the middle, driving home Buttice and Barthel, and making it 5-1 EC.
The Saxons threatened again in the second with two runners on base and one out. A 6-4-3 double play ended the inning and kept Alfred off the scoreboard in the second. The Saxons added a run in the third inning and cut the deficit to 5-2. The Saxons tacked on another run in the fourth inning, trimming the Elmira advantage to two runs. Currao and Bolt started the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back singles. Momentum was halted on a double play as EC could not push any runs across in the inning.
A Barthel walk followed by a Wheaton single to right to get momentum going for Elmira in the bottom of the fifth. Dinicola walked a bit later to load the bases with Soaring Eagles. Currao continued the inning with a single to left field, being Barthel and Wheaton into score and extending the Elmira advantage to 7-3.
The Saxons responded with four runs in the seventh inning, evening up the score at seven for each side. Barthel started the seventh with a walk, getting momentum started for the Soaring Eagles. Wheaton followed with a walk to give Elmira two base runners.
The Soaring Eagles were unable to push any runs across the plate in the inning. Bolt started the bottom of the eighth with a double to left and moved up to third on an error. Stone walked a few batters later to put runners on the corners for EC. Buttice poked a single out to left center field right after, driving home Bolt and Stone and giving the Soaring Eagles the advantage back 9-7. Barthel sent the next pitch down the right field line for a double, bringing Buttice across to score the tenth run for EC. Gabe Schultz, who pinch ran for Barthel, brought home another run on an error, giving EC an 11-7 advantage. Currao lined a single back up the middle, bringing home Brandon Policar and Dinicola to give EC a 13-7 advantage. Nicholas Miller got the last seven outs on the mound for EC, getting the win, as Elmira claimed victory in this one 13-7.
LEADERS
Offensively, Currao led the way, recording four hits in five at-bats, and racking up six RBIs. Bolt notched three hits, including two doubles, and added two runs scored to his total. Barthel had a double in his only at-bat while also tallying four walks, two runs scored and adding a pair of RBIs. Miller pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing no runs and striking out one.
UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles are back in action on Friday April 25th as they travel to Houghton, NY for a conference matchup with the Highlanders of Houghton University. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM.
--------
WRITEUP COURTESY OF ELMIRA COLLEGE ATHLETICS
PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
