Ithaca Advances to Sunday with 8-0 Win Over Moravian
ITHACA, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked Ithaca College softball team scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back as the No. 16 Bombers handed nationally-ranked Moravian College an 8-0 loss in five innings on Saturday morning in the second round of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship at Doris Kostrinsky Field. With the win, Ithaca moved to 34-8 and advanced to Sunday's 12 p.m. finale.
After recording two quick outs in the home half of the first inning, the Bombers found their groove. Senior
Casey Gavin lifted a double that hit off the top of the centerfield fence before
Kelly Robichaud knocked her in with an RBI-single through the left side to stake the Bombers to a 1-0 lead. The inning continued when
Alex Wright reached first base on an infield error by the Greyhounds to put two on the bases with two outs. Sophomore
Allie Colleran stepped into the box and launched a three-run shot over the leftfield fence to put Ithaca up by four runs through one inning of play.
Senior pitcher
Allison Macari would hold Moravian scoreless in the second and third innings before her team padded her lead with two more runs on two hits in the bottom of the third to make it 6-0 in Ithaca's favor. Gavin got things going after reaching on a fielder's choice before both Robichaud and Colleran reached base after being hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded,
Erin McQuillan singled to center and drove in a pair before the side would be retired.
Ithaca would seal the win in the fifth inning with two more runs after another infield misplay by Moravian extended the frame for the Bombers.
Alex Wright led off the inning with a single through the right side before being lifted for a pinch runner.
Hannah Anderson reached base after being plunked and
Emily Bloom loaded the bases for Ithaca after the error. Freshman
Vanessa Brown stepped to the plate and ripped a two-out-two-run double to right center to give the Bombers the walk-off win.
Macari pitched the second consecutive shutout for Ithaca after
Laura Quicker held Mount Saint Mary off the board through seven innings on Friday. Macari went five innings and gave up just three singles for her 14th win of the year (14-3). The Stamford, Conn. native fanned three in the win.
The Bombers made the most of their seven hits with eight RBI in all. Colleran led the way with three while Brown and McQuillan each had two. Robichaud drove in one.