Box Score | Tournament Page

SCHENECTADY, NY – Tiffany Ippoliti struck out eight batters as the Union College softball team defeated Elmira College 4-1 on Saturday in the opening game of the ECAC Championships at Alexander Field.

Elmira will face the loser of game two between St. John Fisher and Medaille at 3 p.m. while Union will face the winner at 5 p.m.

Union improves to 30-8 on the year. Ippoliti pitched a complete game to earn her 16th win on the season. Lauren Hoffman, Nina Cervini and Allie Sirrine each went 1-for-3 at the plate. Hoffman drove in two RBI and circled the bases once.

Elmira falls to 23-21 this season. Casandra Fontinell pitched 4.1 innings but suffered the loss and falls to 5-5. Lauryn DePaul went 2-for-3 with a homerun. Brittnee McGuire and Stephany Fontinell both went 2-for-3. Stephany Fontinell also pitched 1.2 innings in relief.

DePaul led off the game with a long shot to centerfield en route giving the Soaring Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Union answered back in the second inning. Sirrine doubled to left field and scored on a throwing error by Casandra Fontinell to first base in attempt to put out Hannah Fandl.

The Dutchwomen added more runs to the board in the fifth inning. After Diana Polli and Samantha Chevalier each reached on singles, Hoffman hit an single to left field to send the two runners home and advance to second on the throw. After advancing to third, Hoffman gave the Dutchwomen a 4-1 lead after scoring off a passed ball.

The Soaring Eagles started knocking on the door in the sixth inning. DePaul singled up the middle to lead off the inning. McGuire singled to right while Jacqueline Gibson reached on a fielder's choice and Fontinell reached safely on a single down the left field line to load the bases.

With one out, Ippoliti got Erin Pruess to pop up to Callee Heywood at second and she got out of the threat by striking out Darcy James.