HOUGHTON, NY— The Houghton Highlanders opened conference play with a pair of victories over the visiting Elmira Soaring Eagles, 6-3 and 11-5.
 
Houghton pitchers kept the Elmira bats at bay, while Zach Parr led the offensive attack.  Parr turned in another career-day, going 6-for-8 with four doubles, a homerun, six RBI and two runs scored, while the Highlanders rapped out 22 total hits on the day, 10 of which went for extra bases.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Game 1 Score: Elmira – 3 | Houghton – 6
Game 2 Score: Elmira – 5 | Houghton – 11
Records: Elmira: 2-11 (0-2 Empire 8) | Houghton: 7-8 (2-0 Empire 8)
Venue: Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex, Houghton, NY | Attendance: 72/72
 
Game One: Hunter Kendall picked up his second win of the season, tossing a complete game with eight strikeouts, while allowing only two walks and six hits.
 
The Highlanders opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Dylan Boprey walked and Parr ripped a double off the base of the centerfield wall. 
 
Houghton would tack on three more in the third when Jason Kauffeldt smashed a lead-off homerun to right, and later in the inning, Chris VanCheri hit a sacrifice fly and Parr scored on a failed pickoff attempt, giving the Highlanders a 4-0 lead.
 
The Soaring Eagles picked up a run in the fourth, but Houghton answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Kade Cochran pulled Elmira a run closer in the top of the fifth with a towering homerun to left that ricocheted off the light standard.
 
But again Houghton answered in the bottom half of the inning when Sebastian Rodriguez laced a double down the left field line, scoring Jeremiah Chow from first base.
 
The Soaring Eagles would pick up one final run in the top of the sixth, but Kendall would allow no more, closing down the game by retiring the final six batters he faced.
 
Game Two: With the Highlanders trailing, 3-2, in the bottom of the fourth, the Houghton bats came alive, plating six runs, including the coup de gras, a three-run bomb off the bat of Parr, to give the Highlanders an 8-3 advantage.
 
Houghton would tack on a run in the fifth, and two more in the sixth, before allowing two runs in the top of the seventh. 
 
After a slightly rocky start, Ethan Cetton settled into a rhythm, at one point retiring 10 consecutive Elmira hitters.
 
Cetton would hand the ball over to Trevor Ciccotti, who pitched a scoreless eighth, and Ryan Newtown, who retired all three Soaring Eagles hitters in order.
 
KEY STATS:
>> In nine games-played this season, Parr has a team-best 19 hits, including seven doubles, a homerun, and 13 RBI.  His is currently hitting .576 with an OPS of 1.450.
 
>> Dylan Boprey went 4-for-6 on the day with two walks, four runs scored and three RBI.
 
>> Isaac Mann picked up a pair of hits in both games, while Kauffeldt laced three hits and stole four bases.

COACH'S CORNER:
"These were two big wins for us today, and I was incredibly pleased with how we earned them.  Our pitchers threw well, we played solid defense, and our bats came alive when we needed them.  You can't ask for much more on the opening day of conference play.
 
"Zach Parr is so much fun to watch right now.  He's barreling up lots of pitches in any count.  He's really put us on his back in multiple situations this year. But we also had excellent days from a bunch of guys--Dylan [Boprey], [Jason Kauffeldt], Ian [Slate], Isaac [Mann] and several others.  We hit in clutch spots, but we also produced runs by executing.  I'm really proud of how we played all over the field today.
 
"We continue to progress each day and it shows. We'll put in some work tomorrow, then take off on Sunday.  If we stay focused, I look forward to what we can do come Monday afternoon." –Head Coach Brian Reitnour
 
UP NEXT:
With inclement weather in the forecast for tomorrow, the Highlanders and Soaring Eagles will play the third and final game of their series on Monday at 4:00 p.m. at the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex.