Ithaca Hits 20-Win Milestone; Elmira Sweeps Houghton; Naz Falls to RIT
ITHACA v RPI
The Ithaca College softball team swept a doubleheader at Rensselaer on Saturday afternoon, winning the first game 5-2 and following that with a 9-1 win in the second game. The victories improved Ithaca's overall record to 21-13, and it is the 20th consecutive year that the Bomber softball program has won 20 or more games. Renssealer fell to 23-14 overall.
In the first game
Francesca Busa and Sydney Folk each had two hits and Jennifer Biondi slugged her first home run of the season as the Bombers won the first game of the day. Ithaca built a 5-0 lead through the top of the sixth inning, before RPI scored both of its runs in the bottom of the sixth. Sam Bender pitched into the fifth inning and picked up her 10th win of the season. Laura Quicker pitched the final eight outs and earned her first save of the season.
Biondi's two-run homer in the fourth gave Ithaca the lead. The Bombers added a run in the fifth on an RBI single from Folk to score Busa. Rachel Dell'Orto and Busa added RBI hits in the sixth inning.
In the second game Ithaca scored nine runs and totaled 15 hits, all of which were singles. Jennifer Biondi, Francesca Busa and Kelly Robichaud had three hits each in support of starting pitcher Allison Macari, who improved to 8-8 on the season. Macari had one strikeout and allowed just one earned run.
Ithaca scored single runs in the first, third and fourth innings, and added three runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh. Biondi drove in two runs and scored once. Busa had an RBI and scored two runs, and Rachel Dell'Orto was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
ELMIRA v HOUGHTON
Katie Hobson '13 came through in the second game earning her shutout to help the EC Softball team sweep Houghton College, 10-4 and 8-0, on Saturday afternoon at Eldridge Park Stadium in the final home regular season contest. The Soaring Eagles improve to 23-9, while the Highlanders fall to 1-21 on the season.
In game one EC was able to take an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when
Jacquelyn Heggie '16 singled up the middle to score
Mikayla Bean '14. However, the Highlanders came back in the top of the next inning scoring four straight runs with Jessica Hayne hitting a two-RBI double down the left field line and Sarah Beirne hitting a two-RBI single past second base. EC was able to stay calm and tie up the game in the bottom of third then eventually use their bats to register six more runs securing the 10-4 victory.
Beanhit 2-for-3 from the plate recording one RBI and one run, while
Ashley Palmer '16 went 3-for-4 from the box scoring three runs and recording two RBIs.
Alex Puglisi '14 pitched in game one for EC going seven innings allowing five hits and two walks, while striking out 10.
In game two
Hobson had a stellar performance from the mound pitching five innings, allowing one hit and striking out five in her second shutout this season. Everyone in the EC lineup during game two earned at least one hit from behind the plate.
Hobson, Sarah Johnson '15 and
Julianne Heggie '16 led the EC lineup each hitting 2-for-3 from the behind the plate, while
Jacquelyn Heggie '16 and
Katie Dore '15 each recorded two RBIs in the game for EC.
The EC Softball team will return to action tomorrow when they travel to face Cortland State University in non-conference play. Game one will start at 1:00 p.m. and game two will start at 3:00 p.m.
NAZARETH v RIT
The Golden Flyers fall to RIT in a double header Saturday afternoon. Scores were 5-2 in game one and 10-1 in game two.
After the two losses the Golden Flyers are now 5-22. The RIT Tigers are now 12-20 after their two victories.
The Golden Flyers opened up play in the first inning of the first game with two runs after
Morgan Ross singled to center field and teammate
Maureen Rogers hit a homerun to left field.
Scoring in game two came in the third inning after Rogers hit a double which sent teammate
Kailey Ritch to home base to earn the run for the Golden Flyers.
Nazareth plays again this Sunday at Houghton at 1 p.m.