Score: Elmira College 7, Stevens Institute of Technology 1
Score: Stevens 9, Elmira 0
Records: Elmira (8-10, 5-5 Empire 8), Stevens (14-14-1, 6-4 Empire 8)
Location: Dobbelaar Field at the De Baun Athletic Complex - Hoboken, New Jersey

HOBOKEN, N.J. -- The Elmira College baseball team earned its first-ever win over Stevens Institute of Technology on Friday afternoon in Hoboken, New Jersey, as the Soaring Eagles topped the Ducks in the seven-inning series opener by a final score of 7-1, before falling 9-0 in the nightcap of the Empire 8 Conference doubleheader.

In only its third varsity season, the triumph in the opening game of the series against the Ducks snapped Stevens' six-game win streak against EC. Friday's win also marked the second consecutive E8 series in which the Soaring Eagles have secured a milestone win, having earned their first victory against Ithaca College at Dunn Field on April 9.

After playing to a 1-1 draw in the first inning of the early game, the Soaring Eagles scored two runs in both the third and fourth innings to pull ahead by four. In the top of the third, EC scored a pair of runs on back-to-back doubles, the first from Dennis Rudolph '18 and the latter off the bat of Jansen Crossley '20. Although Crossley was thrown out trying to extend the extra-base hit into a triple, his two-bagger and RBI extended the Elmira lead to 3-1.

In the fourth, Conor Bawiec '18 and Dylan Bellinger '17 each drove in a run with a pair of singles. After plating Cameron Heggie '18 with a base knock, Bawiec stole second and came around to score on a hit up the middle from Bellinger, making it 5-1 in favor of the visitors.

The Purple and Gold padded their lead with two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, as EC made Stevens reliever William Korosec pay for leading off the frame with walks to Bellinger and Nate Hanner '18. Both Soaring Eagles touched home safely on a two-out single, struck by Bryce Plante '18.

Bawiec was once again masterful on the mound for the Soaring Eagles. He nearly went the distance, this after tossing a complete-game victory against fellow Empire 8 rival Ithaca College in his last start on April 9. After giving up the lone run in the first, he struck out two as part of a 1-2-3 second inning. Then in the third, he stranded the bases loaded by striking out Stevens' Zelph Walters and Patrick Rood. In total, Bawiec hurled 6.1 innings with a game-high nine strikeouts en route to his third win of the season.

In the late game, the host Ducks scored twice in the first inning, three times in the second, and added one more in the third, as Stevens controlled the game from the get-go. The Ducks pounded out 14 hits, including a pair of doubles and a three-run homer from Alex Detweiler. Detweiler's dinger came in the second inning and gave Stevens a 5-0 advantage.

Stevens ace Danny Poidomani continued his fine sophomore season with another stellar outing. He limited Elmira to just two hits in 7.0 shutout innings, and with nine more strikeouts, the southpaw added to his league-leading season total, which stands at 76.

Six different Soaring Eagles posted a hit in the second game, with one each coming from Bawiec, Crossley, Hanner, Heggie, Rudolph, and Tommy Fogarty '20. On the mound, Joe Kidd '18 battled through the first few frame and the night with 5.0 innings of work. Kidd struck out four before giving way to Anthony Colegrove '18, who threw a hitless sixth inning.

In Their Own Words...
Head Coach Corey Paluga on Elmira's first-ever win over Stevens...
"The most rewarding feeling comes from the fact that it was the first game of the series. The team seemed prepared and ready to go from the first pitch."

Coach Paluga on Conor Bawiec's strong performance on the mound in the opening game...
"He continues to get better on the mound, and the defense was also locked in with him. His preparation and competitiveness are big factors for the success he has."

Inside the Box Score (Game One)

• Elmira finished the game with nine hits, three more than the Stevens offense.
• EC had a pair of doubles and a trio of stolen bases; Stevens had none of either.
• Crossley and Rudolph paced the Soaring Eagles with two hits apiece, and each stole one base.
• Crossley was 2-for-4 with a game-high three RBIs.
• Plante went 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
• Bellinger was 1-for-2 at the plate and was also walked twice.
• Bawiec scattered six hits and one run across 6.1 innings.
• Bawiec issued only one free pass and struck out nine batsmen.
• Scott Logue '20 retired both batters he faced to end the game.
• Walters took the loss for the Ducks after giving up five runs on eight hits in 4.0 innings.

Inside the Box Score (Game Two)

• Elmira was shutout despite recording six hits.
• Stevens taxed the EC pitching staff for nine runs on 14 hits.
• Six different Soaring Eagles finished with one hit.
• Detweiler led all batters with four hits and five RBIs, including a three-run homer.
• Walters had three hits and two RBIs for the Ducks.
• Poidomani fanned nine in 7.0 scoreless innings to earn the win.
• Kidd took the loss after giving up six runs and striking out four in 5.0 innings.
• Colegrove threw a hitless inning with one strikeout out of the bullpen.

News and Notes

• Elmira is 8-10 on the season and still an even .500 inside Empire 8 play (5-5).
• After picking up their first-ever win over Ithaca on April 9, the Soaring Eagles recorded their first victory over Stevens in the early game of Friday's doubleheader.
• Bawiec is now 3-1 with a team-leading 39 strikeouts on the mound so far in 2017.
• Bawiec has won back-to-back starts and extended his hit streak to seven consecutive games.
• Bawiec has reached base safely in 11 straight games, the longest active on-base streak on the team.
• Crossley's three RBIs in the first game are one shy of his season high.
• Rudolph picked up his sixth multi-hit game of 2017 in the series opener on Friday.
• Colegrove has begun his junior season with 2.2 scoreless innings in four appearances.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles and Ducks will finish their three-game Empire 8 series on Saturday, April 15, with a nine-inning game on Dobbelaar Field. First pitch is slated for 5:00 p.m.