Ithaca Softball Starts Season With Two Victories
Clermont, Fla. - The Ithaca softball team began its season with a 9-0 victory over Pine Manor in five innings and a 9-5 victory over Saint Joseph (Conn.) at Clermont, Fla. The Bombers are ranked eighth nationally, and return to action Mondayu with games against Wisconsin-Stout and Concordia.
Ithaca 9, Pine Manor 0 (5 innnings)
Senior pitcher Allison Greaney (John F. Kennedy/Iselin, N.J.) started the game and was the winning pitcher. Freshman Jillian Olmstead (Caesar Rodney/Magnolia, Del.) pitched the last three innings, and the duo combined on a no-hitter.
Senior Britt Lillie (Honeoye Falls-Lima/Mendon) got Ithaca's offense started with a two-run homer in the first inning on the first pitch she saw this season.
Ithaca 9, Saint Joseph 5
The Bombers rallied from a five-run deficit to earn the victory. Senior Kerry Barger (Carmel/Carmel) carried the offensive load for Ithaca as she was 3-for-4 on the afternoon with a pair of doubles and a pair of runs scored. Lillie added two hits and two RBIs in the game.
Freshman pitcher Sam Bender (Neshaminy/Levittown, Pa.) earned the win in relief. She pitched the final two and a third innings and allowed two hits. None of Saint Joseph's runs were earned, and they all came in the top of the second inning. The Bombers answered with two runs in the bottom of the second and took control of the game with a five-run fourth.
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