Score: Elmira College 2, SUNY Canton 1
Score: Canton 1, Elmira 0
Records: Elmira (11-11, 7-6 E8), Canton (6-22, 2-11  E8)
Location: Dunn Field -- Elmira, New York
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Elmira College baseball earned a doubleheader split against Empire 8 Conference foe SUNY Canton on Saturday afternoon at historic Dunn Field. EC used two first-inning runs and exceptional pitching to earn a 2-1 triumph in the opening game. In the second tilt, five errors hindered the Purple and Gold during their 1-0 setback.

Much of the action in today's early contest came in the first inning. Hayden Rothenberg '17 began the scoring in the game in the bottom of the frame, when he was able to get home from third base after a throwing error by the Kangaroos' catcher Brandon Welch. Dylan Bellinger '18 continued the scoring effort in the inning by driving Conor Bawiec '18 home from second base with a double to deep left field.

Canton's best chance in the matchup came in the top of the third inning. The Kangaroos put three players on base with just one out after two singles and a muffed catch from Bellinger at first base. At this point, Elmira's starter, Bawiec, settled in and forced the fifth batter of the frame to ground out, which drove in one run. Bawiec next got a flyout from the following batter to leave two on base and preserve the one-run lead.

From that point, it was all about the pitching. Elmira's starter, Bawiec, pitched a gem, allowing just one run in his complete-game effort. The Lebanon, Pennsylvania, native allowed just five hits and one unearned run while striking out seven batters in 7.0 innings. Behind this strong performance on the mound, the Soaring Eagles were able to take the one-run victory, 2-1.

The start of the second contest mirrored the first, as the crucial run of the game was scored in the opening frame. Sloppy fielding by the Purple and Gold allowed the Kangaroos to score the only run of the contest. Errors from Tommy Fogarty '20 and Bryce Plante '18 allowed the first two batters of the game to get on base. Canton took the early 1-0 lead the following at-bat with a fielder's choice that plated one.

For the second consecutive contest, EC received a strong pitching effort. Elmira's starter, Nick Sampogna '18, went 9.0 innings and allowed just the first-inning unearned run. The product of Verplanck, New York, struck out four and stranded six opposing batters on base. Sampogna also showed his fielding prowess in the tilt, as he made a beautiful diving catch in the second inning.

The Soaring Eagles had multiple chances to tie the score at 1-all, as they left 12 runners on base. This point is best illustrated in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Nate Hanner '18 kicked off the frame with a walk. Sam Plaugher '20 entered the game to pinch-run for Hanner and was able to advance to second base on a wild pitch by Canton's pitcher. Unfortunately for EC, Rothenberg and Plante got the first two out of the frame with a strikeout and a flyout, respectively.

However, hope was still alive, as Bawiec earned a walk in the next at-bat to put the winning run on first base. The comeback did not materialize, as Bellinger drove a ball to center field that was caught, which sealed the one-run win, 1-0, for the road team.
 
In Their Own Words...
Head Coach Corey Paluga on earning the hard-fought doubleheader split today...
"Their pitching staff did an excellent job of keeping us off balance at the plate and what we need to continue to focus on offensively is to make adjustments midgame if we find tendencies or patterns that favor us."
 
Coach Paluga on the outstanding pitching efforts from Conor Bawiec and Nick Sampogna...
"I will take performances like that from Bawiec and Sampogna any day of the week. If we are giving up one run in a game, we are going to win 95-percent of those games. Unfortunately, the second game was one of those five-percent that we end up losing."
 
Coach Paluga on what was working well on the mound for his starters...
"They were pounding the zone. Our kryptonite this year has been our tendency to walk batters, but today they did an outstanding job of pitching in the zone and forcing contact. They made the batters hit the pitches that they wanted them to hit."

Coach Paluga on the team's mindset heading into Sunday's doubleheader against SUNY Canton and St. John Fisher…
"It will be important because they are both conference games, but the first game against Canton is the most important because it is the next one up. Our guys have to focus on winning the first game before thinking about the second one. Our focus is to take the approach to Canton and to win the series."
 
Inside the Box Score (Game One)

• Both teams finished the bout tied with five hits.
• Both teams also finished tied with two errors apiece.
• Dennis Rudolph '18 went 3-for-3 from the plate with one double.
• Bellinger was 1-for-2 with EC's lone RBI of the contest.
• Rothenberg went 1-for-3 with one run scored.
• Bawiec pitched all 7.0 innings, while fanning seven batters and allowing just five hits.

 
Inside the Box Score (Game Two)

• Elmira outhit the Roos 4-to-2.
• The Soaring Eagles finished with five errors, compared to Canton's one.
• EC earned eight walks in the matchup.
• Bawiec got on base four times in the bout, posting three walks and one hit.
• Rothenberg, Matt van Muelken '18 and Eddie O'Donnell IV '18 also recorded hits in the nightcap.
• Sampogna pitched 9.0 innings, while striking out four batters and allowing just the one unearned run.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira is 11-11 overall and an even 7-6 inside conference play.
• EC improved to 5-4 in home games at Dunn Field in 2017.
• The Soaring Eagles are now 3-4 in the all-time series against the Roos.
• Elmira's five errors tied a season high.
• EC's four hits in the nightcap are its second-lowest total of the season.
• Canton's two hits are a season low by a victorious Elmira opponent.
• Bawiec's three walks in the nightcap tied a career high.
• Bawiec's five hits allowed in the first game are a new season low.
• Rudolph's three hits in the opener are a new season high.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will return to action tomorrow with contests against Canton and 18th-ranked St. John Fisher College at Dunn Field. The opening game against the Kangaroos is slated to begin at 12:00 p.m. and the tilt against the Cardinals is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m.