WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Zach Williamson '20 pitched a stellar game to guide the Elmira College baseball team to its first win of the season, a 6-4 victory over Bates College at the Chain of Lakes Park on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon in Winter Haven, Florida.

The Soaring Eagles (1-2) avenged their loss to the Bobcats (1-2) from Monday's season-opening doubleheader, thanks in part to Williamson's career outing. The senior right-handed pitcher twirled a career-high 8.0 innings en route to his first collegiate win. The Cicero, New York, native limited Bates to three runs, two of which were earned, on seven hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.

Williamson received some early offensive support from the EC batters. Jack Volpe '20 led off the bottom of the first with a bang, beating out a three-bagger and immediately energizing the dugout. Tommy Fogarty '20 drove Volpe home for the game's first run with a towering double that carried to the wall in left field.

After the Bobcats tied the score in the top of the second inning, the Soaring Eagles posted five runs in the third and fourth combined, highlighted by a four-spot in the third inning. In the third, Sam Plaugher '20 and Volpe each walked and swiped a base to move into scoring position. Mason Ryan '22 then came through with a two-run single that gave EC the lead for good at 3-1. Fogarty followed with another RBI double, and Jourdan Plaisted '21 drove him in to widen the advantage to 5-1.

In the fourth, Volpe drew a full-count walk, moved to third on an erratic pick-off throw by Bates' Ryan Moralej, and scored on a Ryan sac fly that extended Elmira's lead to 6-1.

The Bobcats cut into the lead with runs in the sixth and eighth innings on solo home runs. In the top of the ninth, Angus Adams '22 entered out of the bullpen looking to secure the win. He faced some adversity, first when Bates' John Nowak struck out but reached base on a wild pitch. With runners on the corners and two outs, Colin Coyne drove in another run to reduce Elmira's lead to two, but Adams rung up Henry Jamieson on a check-swing to end the contest.

In Their Own Words…
Head coach Corey Paluga when asked about the adjustments the team made after breaking down Monday's loss to Bates…
"We talked very little about adjustments. We talked about maintaining our energy and attitude, and getting refocused on our routines and processes from the first three weeks of practice."

Coach Paluga on the performance by starting pitcher Zach Williamson…
"Zach pitched extremely well, though he threw more pitches than I wanted him to. I'm not surprised by his outing because of his preparation this winter, which reinforces his ability to be a leader on the mound."

Coach Paluga on successfully closing the game in a high-pressure situation…
"Wins like that early in the season are invaluable to overall team confidence and self-confidence for individual players."

News and Notes

• Elmira picked up its first win of the 2020 season.
• The Soaring Eagles evened the all-time series with Bates at 1-1.
• Fogarty led all Soaring Eagles with two hits, both of which were doubles, in addition to two RBIs.
• Ryan collected a team-high three RBIs.
• Volpe finished 1-for-2 with two walks and a team-high three runs scored.
• Freshman Felix De La Cruz '23 made his first start and picked up his first collegiate hit.
• Williamson's 8.0 innings are a career high, while the win marked the first of his career.
• Adams earned his second career save in the ninth.

Up Next
Elmira wraps-up its Florida series with Brandeis University on Wednesday, February 19, at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Florida. First pitch with the Judges is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.