HOUGHTON, NY—The Houghton Highlanders (9-10, 2-4 Empire 8) continued their torrid hitting, rapping out 19 hits—including two doubles, and triple and two homeruns—as they picked up a much-needed victory over the Elmira Soaring Eagles (5-6, 3-2 Empire 8) Monday night.
 
The Highlanders took two-out-of-three games from the Soaring Eagles, collecting a total of 47 hits over the series.
 
Houghton scored four runs in the second inning thanks to doubles by Jeremy Newswanger and David Wessells and an RBI base hit by Nicholas Melchiore.
 
The Highlanders then tacked on a fifth run in the bottom of the third when Ethan Duryea launched a two-strike homerun to right center.
 
Elmira continued to battle; picking up a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth, trimming the lead to 5-3.
 
Houghton added a run in the bottom of the fifth, then began to separate in the sixth, starting when Bryan Hodge crushed a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall.  The Highlanders would add two more runs in the inning to make it a 9-3 game.
 
While the Soaring Eagles continued to fight, they would come no closer as the Highlanders pulled away down the stretch.
 
Wessells went 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored, while Hodge and Newswanger each added three hits.  Melchiore, Duryea and Garret Kirkpatrick each added two hits apiece for the Highlanders. 
 
Ned Monthie picked up his second win of the season, tossing six strong innings, allowing seven hits and striking out five.
 
Coach's Corner:
"This was a big win for us.  Elmira is a well-coached team that has become a playoff contender very quickly.  They have some very good players on their side.
 
"We hit well, executed situationally, and received a quality starting pitching performance.  You can't ask for much more than that.  I'm real proud of our guys.
 
Next Time Out:
Houghton returns to action tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. for a non-conference matchup with the Alfred State Pioneers.