Ithaca Wins 2014 E8 Championship and NCAA Bid with 8-0 Win Over Alfred

5/4/2014 3:20:10 PM

BOX SCORE

Ithaca College batted around the lineup and scored five runs in the fifth inning en route to winning the program's ninth Empire 8 Softball Championship, beating Alfred University 8-0 (five innings) on Sunday afternoon. The Bombers earn the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, while the Saxons will wait for a possible at-large berth. The full NCAA bracket will be announced on Monday, May 5. 

Senior Sam Bender earned her third win of the tournament, as she held the Saxons scoreless and recorded one strikeout in 5.0 innings of play. Sophomore Kelly Robichaud led the Bombers with four RBI. She went 2-for-3 with two singles and a run scored. Junior Francesca Busa went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while freshman Jessie Fleck went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two RBI.

The Bombers scored their first run in the third on a bases loaded error in the Alfred infield to take a 1-0 lead. With the bases still loaded, Robichaud sent a shot right through the middle of the defense into center field. Two runs scored on the play, putting Ithaca up by a score of 3-0.

The Bombers once again turned on the offense in the fifth, as Ithaca scored five runs in the frame on four hits and two errors. With runners at first and second, Robichaud once again came through with a hit up the middle infield to score two more Bomber runs. Robichaud advanced to third on the play due to the throw and an error in the outfield. Junior Monica Capolongo brought Robichaud home with a single in the following at bat, giving Ithaca the 6-0 lead. Fleck capped the scoring with a bases loaded two-run single later in the inning, putting the Bombers up, 8-0.

Alfred was unable to cross home in the second half of the fifth, giving Ithaca the Empire 8 Championship via the fifth inning eight-run rule.
 
Four Bombers were named to the 2014 Empire 8 All-Tournament Team, including senior Sam Bender who was honored as the MVP of the tournament. Bender was joined by Busa, Fleck and sophomore Casey Gavin.

The first round of the NCAA is scheduled for the weekend of May 9-11. 


All-Tournament Team