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ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball team split a Liberty League doubleheader at Freeman Field against the University of Rochester on Thursday as the Yellowjackets took the opener by overcoming a seven-run deficit to win, 8-7, and the Bombers took the night cap, 13-3, to enforce the 10-run rule. Ithaca is now 18-11 overall this season and 11-4 in the Liberty League.
GAME ONE: Rochester 8, Ithaca 7
The Bombers put up four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take control of the game early. The scoring started with a double down the line by Matt Curtis that brought in Ethan McDonough and then a double steal allowed Curtis to score, while Collin Feeney moved up to second base. The lead grew to 4-0 on a two-run home run to right field from Ethan Fantel.
The score remained 4-0 until the Bombers plated three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to extend their lead to 7-0. IC quickly loaded the bases on two errors and a base hit and then an RBI groundout by Ethan Daddabbo made it 5-0. A few batters later, Fantel drove home two more runs with a double to centerfield.
Momentum completely flipped in the top of the eighth inning as Rochester scored eight runs on six hits to take an 8-7 lead and the Bombers could never recover and dropped the opener by that score.
Reed Bailey started on the mound for IC and pitched the best game of his career as he tossed 7.0 shutout inning and scattered three hits.
GAME TWO: Ithaca 13, Rochester 3 (8 innings)
UR took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning as a single and walk moved into scoring position on sacrifice bunt and the lead runner scored on a wild pitch. The lead grew to 2-0 in the third inning on a sacrifice fly.
The Bombers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as Feeney reached on a one-out single and Sheldon Jay Walker III followed with a walk to set up an RBI base hit from Logan Scully to make it 2-1. A wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position and Ryan Laubscher tied the game with a ground out to second as Walker crossed the plate.
Rochester went back ahead in the fifth inning, 3-2, on another wild pitch, but IC tied the game back up in the bottom half on an RBI groundout Scully that pushed home Feeney.
The Bombers then plated eight runs on four hits to blow the game open, 11-3. Fantel drove in two with a base hit up the middle and Curtis ripped a double down the line to score Fantel on the next at bat to make it 6-3. IC then scored two runs on bases loaded walks and McDermott cleared the bases on a full count, two-out double to left center.
IC ended the game in the eighth inning by way of the 10-run rule as Curtis blasted a two-run home run to left field for the 13-3 walk-off win.
Ithaca and Rochester will conclude the series tomorrow in Rochester at 4 p.m.