Game 1 Score: Elmira College 6 – Penn State-Abington 1
Game 2 Score: Elmira College 8 – Penn State-Abington 0
Records: Elmira (4-5), Penn State-Abington (4-11)
Location: Alverthorpe Park – Jenkintown, PA
 
Jenkintown, PA -- The Elmira College baseball team continued its red-hot run of late, stretching its winning streak to a program-best four games by sweeping both ends of a doubleheader at Penn State-Abington on Saturday afternoon at Alverthorpe Park. The Soaring Eagles overcame an early deficit to win the opener seven-inning opening game 6-1, before dominating the Lions 8-0 in nine innings to cap the weekend.
 
Elmira head coach Corey Paluga turned to Andy Reed '19 in the first game of the day. Although he was knocked around in his last outing, failing to make it out of the first inning, the rookie southpaw put together a splendid performance to secure the first victory of his collegiate career. Reed went the distance, limiting Penn State-Abington to one run on six hits, while striking out three.
 
It was the Lions that scratched out the game's first run in the bottom of the second. Anthony Pletscher got things going for the home side with a single to right field, before swiping second. After Reed whiffed his next batter, Tyler DiPatri chased Pletscher home with line-drive single to left to put Penn State-Abington up 1-0.
 
The margin remained the same until Elmira leveled the game in the top of the fourth, capitalizing on some shaky defense. With one out, Conor Bawiec '18 drew a free pass. Both Dennis Rudolph '18 and Jack Thistle '18 reached on defensive miscues by Penn State-Abington Ted Smallwood to load the bases with one away. Bryce Plante '18 bounced a chopper down the first base line to move the runners 90 feet, pushing Bawiec across.
 
The score line stayed tied until the final inning, where Elmira broke things open. The Soaring Eagles again got things going with one out. Will Jenkins '18 drew a walk, while Cameron Heggie '18 punched a single through the infield, putting runners on the corners. Hayden Rothenberg '17 followed by lacing a hard ground ball that was mishandled by the Penn State-Abington shortstop, bringing home Jenkins and maintaining the Elmira threat.
 
After a Rey Colon '18 single loaded the bases, Dylan Bellinger '18 and Bawiec broke the game open. Bellinger laced a single down the left-field line, collecting two RBIs, while Bawiec followed with a triple into the right-centerfield gap to score two more.
 
The advantage was more than enough for Reed, who limited the Lions to just three singles over the final five innings. He neutralized a potential Abington rally by inducing a key double-play in the seventh.
 
The back end of Saturday's doubleheader was not nearly as close as the opener. Elmira took an early lead in the first and never looked back in the 8-0 rout. The one run in the first was all Elmira needed, as Bawiec threw a gem, going seven strong innings in the second shutout in the program's brief history.
 
It was Bawiec who actually sparked the offense in game two, lacing a single up the middle to score Bellinger with two outs in the first inning.
 
EC built up the advantage to 3-0 in the third frame. Rudolph knocked in a run with an RBI groundout, while Nate Hanner '18 followed with an RBI single to left. The Soaring Eagles added two more the following inning on a Bawiec RBI base knock and a Rudolph double down the left-field line.
 
The Lions never threatened, as Bawiec was extremely efficient in his seven innings of work. He scattered four Penn State-Abington hits, while he finished with six strikeouts. The second-year righty retired the side in order three times during his start.
 
Hanner knocked in the final two Elmira runs, while Mike Ladka '16 and Nick Cottone '19 closed things out on the mound. The EC relievers each threw a scoreless inning to see out the lopsided victory.
 
Inside the Box Score (Game 1)

• Elmira outhit Penn State-Abington 8-to-6.
• The Soaring Eagles continued their sparkling defensive work, marking a third straight clean game in the field.
• The top of the Elmira order went a combined 6-for-18.
• Bellinger continued his offensive surge with a 2-for-4 effort, scoring one run and collecting two RBIs.
• Bawiec reached base three times in four plate appearance, going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks. Like Bellinger, he also scored one run and drove in two.
• Rothenberg and Colon each went 1-for-4 with a run scored.
• Heggie also had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
• Reed was fantastic, pitching a complete game. He allowed six hits and one run, while also fanning three Penn State-Abington hitters to notch his first collegiate victory.

 
Inside the Box Score (Game 2)

• Elmira outhit Penn State-Abington 15-to-5.
• EC plated runs in six of the nine innings.
• Eight Elmira players collected hits in game two.
• Bellinger and Bawiec again did damage in the middle of the Soaring Eagles' batting order. Bellinger went 3-for-6, lacing a pair of doubles, while scoring three runs. Bawiec helped his own cause, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
• Rothenberg, Rudolph and Hanner each added two hits apiece, while Rudolph and Hanner both collected two RBIs.
• Bawiec got the start on the mound, scattering four hits and whiffing six over seven strong innings. He collected his first victory of the season.
• Ladka and Cottone each threw a scoreless inning of relief.

 
News and Notes

• With the wins, Elmira swept the weekend series against Penn State schools.
• Elmira now carries a four-game winning streak, which is the longest in the program's young history.
• Reed collected his first collegiate victory. It marked the first complete game by the Elmira pitching staff this season, while it was the sixth in program history.
• Bawiec notched his first victory of 2016.
• Bellinger had a big day, going a combined 5-for-10 with four runs and two RBIs. He concludes the weekend swing through Pennsylvania going 9-for-15.
• Bawiec also had a strong combined day at the plate, going 4-for-6 with a triple, three runs scored, and four RBIs. He has now hit safely in 18 straight games dating back to last season.
• Heggie and Rudolph both extended their respective hitting streaks to six games.

 
Up Next
Elmira returns to action on Wednesday, March 23^rd, when it travels to Medaille College for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. The two games conclude Elmira's 11-game non-conference road swing to begin the season.