ITHACA, N.Y. - The #27 Ithaca softball team (16-6) defeated Oneonta (13-10) by scores of 1-0 in the first game and 8-1 in the second game of a doubleheader Thursday afternoon at Kostrinsky Field. Ithaca has won 15 of 16 all-time meetings against Oneonta and has shutout the Red Dragons in six of the last eight games. Ithaca returns to Empire 8 play this weekend by hosting St. John Fisher Saturday and NazarethSunday at Kostrinsky Field. Both doubleheaders begin at 1 p.m.
#27 ITHACA 1, Oneonta 0 | Box Score
Ithaca had its leadoff hitter aboard in four of its six innings, and finally cashed in the run in the bottom of the sixth. Senior second baseman Kait Dolan (Victor/Farmington) started the inning with a single to right field and then stole second. She was sacrificed to third by senior designated player Kerry Barger (Carmel/Carmel), and senior Britt Lillie (Honeoye Falls-Lima/Mendon) drove Dolan in with a sharp single to left field.
That run stood up behind the standout pitching of freshman Sam Bender (Neshaminy/Levittown, Pa.). Bender set the Red Dragons down in the top of the seventh in order to wrap up the first complete-game and first shutout of her college career. Bender went seven innings, allowed just six hits and one walk, and 20 of the 21 outs in the game were recorded in the infield. She is 3-1 on the season.
#27 ITHACA 8, Oneonta 1 | Box Score
The Bombers broke the game open by sending eight batters to the plate and scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lillie had the big hit, a lined double to straightaway centerfield that brought in two runs. Lillie also put Ithaca on the board in the bottom of the first with an RBI single. Her efforts at the plate supported her own pitching line, as Lillie earned the win. She allowed just four hits and one run, in six innings with two strikeouts.
Sophomore Jennifer Biondi (Morris Hills/Rockaway, N.J.) added a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth to increase Ithaca's cushion, and then scored on a single by Dolan. Lillie and Dolan were both 2-for-3 in the game.