Salem, Va..-- The Ithaca softball team (36-11) defeated Cortland 8-1 in an elimination game Saturday at the NCAA Division III Championship Series. Senior pitcher Carly Myers (Claremont Secondary/Victoria, British Columbia) pitched a complete game to earn the victory for the Bombers, giving up just one run on two hits to improve to 20-5 on the season.

 

The game was delayed twice by rain - the contest was originally scheduled to begin at noon but the first pitch was not thrown until 4 p.m. In the second inning, the Bombers fell behind 1-0 on a solo home run by the Red Dragons. The game was later postponed in the third inning with Cortland still holding a 1-0 lead.

 

After a 90-minute rain delay, play resumed and the Bombers dominated the rest of the contest, scoring three runs in the third inning and five runs in the fourth inning. After the first two Ithaca batters in the third inning were retired, senior second baseman Jessica Stangarone (Brewster/Brewster) started the Bomber rally with a single down the left field line. After senior shortstop Erica Cutspec (Fort Plain/Fort Plain) and junior outfielder Chelsey Feldman (Hewlett/Lynbrook) walked to load the bases, freshman third baseman Allison Greaney (John F. Kennedy/Iselin, N.J.) ripped a single to left-center field to score Stangarone and Cutspec. Feldman later scored when the Cortland shortstop couldn’t handle a hard-hit ball by freshman designated player Kerry Barger (Carmel/Carmel).

 

The Bombers broke the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth inning with a five-run onslaught. Freshman Kait Dolan (Victor/Farmington) started the rally by reaching on a bunt that was misplayed by the Cortland third baseman. Senior catcher Stacy Pelesz (Hudson/Livingston) then lined a ball into right center for a double that scored Dolan.  After Stangarone singled to move Pelesz to third, Pelesz scored on a sacrifice fly by Cutspec. After another pair of walks, Barger ripped a ball past the third baseman for a two-RBI double. Senior outfielder Nicole Cade (Beaverton/Portland, Ore.) capped the rally with a single that scored Greaney.

 

That was more than enough help for Myers which dominated the Red Dragon hitters after giving up the second-inning home run. Myers struck out six, walked none and at one point retired 17 straight Cortland hitters. Myers has now won 20 games for the second time in her career and has a 69-19 record in her four seasons.