HOUGHTON, NY— After 366 days, the Houghton Highlanders kicked off the 2021 season with a bang.  Houghton scored 28 runs in a season-opening doubleheader sweep of the Elmira College Soaring Eagles on Monday afternoon, 14-5 and 14-6. 
 
GAME VITALS                           
Game 1 Score: Houghton - 14 | Elmira – 5
Game 2 Score: Houghton – 14 | Elmira – 6
Records: Houghton: 2-0 | Elmira: 0-2
Venue: Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex, Houghton, NY | Attendance: 0
 
Game One: In his first collegiate outing, Ryan Newtown picked up the win for the Highlanders, tossing four innings while striking out three and allowing only one hit.
 
After opening up a three-run lead in the first two innings, the Highlanders scored three in the fourth inning after Jason Kauffeldt singled home David Wessells, and Wayne Rode and Zach Parr crushed a two-RBI triple and an RBI double, respectively. 
 
Houghton would add three more in the fifth and four in the sixth to round out their scoring.  Elmira would push all five of their runs across in the final two frames.
 
Game Two: Hunter Kendall earned his first win of the year, going four innings while allowing only one hit and striking out six.
 
Houghton rapped out nine hits and took advantage of 13 walks by the Elmira pitchers, once again putting up 14 runs.
 
With the Highlanders up, 2-1 in the third, Houghton opened the flood gates with an eight-run frame.  After Sebastian Rodriguez and Dylan Boprey hit back-to-back RBI singles, David Wessells walked in a run, then a costly two-out error by the Soaring Eagles led to five more Houghton runs.
 
Houghton would tack on three more in the fourth and another in the sixth before Elmira would score all five of their remaining runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, including a solo blast to dead-center field off the bat of Joe Morrone.
 
KEY STATS:
>> Houghton rapped out 23 hits on the day, while Elmira accumulated nine.
 
>> Wayne Rode went 4-for-5 with two triples, four walks, four RBI and four runs scored.  David Wessells, Jason Kauffeldt and Dylan Boprey added three hits apiece for the Highlanders.
 
>> James Delaney reached base safely 10 times for the Soaring Eagles without acquiring a hit.  The junior leadoff hitter walked nine times and reached double-digits with a hit-by-pitch.

COACH'S CORNER:
"It was great to pick up a pair of wins on opening day.  We did a lot of things very well—we put together good at bats, drove the ball in key situations, played quality defense and ran the bases well. 
 
"Ryan Newtown and Hunter Kendall both gave us quality starts, and that will be incredibly important for us this year.  As a pitching staff, we need to cut down on our free passes in order to continue to win games, but there is a lot to build on.
 
"I'm looking forward to getting back to work with these guys tomorrow." – Coach Brian Reitnour
 
 UP NEXT:
Houghton returns to the Diamond on Friday afternoon at 12:00 p.m. for a single game against Alfred State College, before facing Rochester Institute of Technology on Saturday.