Ithaca Softball Sweeps Utica
Utica, N.Y. – The Ithaca softball team (21-7, 8-2 Empire 8) passed the 20-win mark for the 18th year in a row with a pair of conference wins at Utica (14-15, 2-8 Empire 8) Friday afternoon. The Bombers won the first game 10-0 in five innings and the second game by the score of 10-4. Ithaca hosts Elmira for a doubleheader at Kostrinsky Field beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Live Stats will be available for both games against Elmira.
#29 ITHACA 10, Utica 0 (5 inn.) |
Box Score
Senior first baseman Courtney Noster (Clearview/Lorain, Ohio) slugged her first-career home run in the top of the fifth inning that provided Ithaca with the decisive margin in a game shortened due to the scoring margin. Noster also sparked Ithaca in the first inning with a two-out, two-run single that brought in a pair of runners that had reached via walks. Utica walked five Bombers in the game, and all five eventually came in to score.
Sophomore Jennifer Biondi (Morris Hills/Rockaway, N.J.) also had two hits for Ithaca. Both were doubles.
Freshman Jillian Olmstead (Caesar Rodney/Magnolia, Del.) earned the complete-game victory by pitching five scoreless innings. It was her first-career shutout, and she allowed just one hit in the, with three strikeouts and four walks.
#29 ITHACA 10, Utica 4 |
Box Score
Ithaca slugged two home runs in completing the sweep of the Pioneers. Freshman Jackie Branco (West Essex/Roseland, N.J.) hit her fourth homer of the year, a three-run blast in the third inning and senior Allison Greaney (John F. Kennedy/Iselin, N.J.) hit a solo homer in the top of the fifth. Greaney was 2-for-4 in the game with two runs scored. Biondi was 3-for-5 in the game with two RBIs.
Olmstead started and pitched an inning and two-thirds, and senior Britt Lillie (Honeoye Falls-Lima/Mendon) earned the win (8-2) in relief over the last five and a third.