Ithaca Falls to Rowan in NCAAs
ITHACA, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked Ithaca College softball team had its season come to a close on Saturday as the No. 16 Bombers fell to nationally 14th-ranked Rowan University, 4-3, in the Super Regional Round of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship at Doris Kostrinsky Field. The loss moved Ithaca's season mark to 35-10, which is the most wins in a season since going 36-12 in 2008. The Profs moved to 40-9 and on to the World Series May 26-31 in Salem, Va. after winning the best-of-three series.
The Profs jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first courtesy of three runs on three hits and an infield error by the Bombers. Rowan's Shilah Snead, who was named the Super Regional's Most Outstanding Player, led off the inning with a single up the middle and moved to third after a sacrifice bunt followed by an error had the Profs set up with two on and one away. The next hitter lifted a double into right field that plated a pair before a sacrifice fly staked Rowan to a three run lead heading into the second.
The Bombers would cut the deficit to one run in the top of the third inning after collecting three base knocks of their own. Freshman
Nikkey Skuraton got the rally started after being hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and would move to third when senior catcher
Kelly Robichaud smacked a double off the left field fence. With runners on second and third and no outs, Rowan looked poised to escape the jam after inducing a pair of pop outs, but seniors
Casey Gavin and
Erin McQuillan each poked an RBI-single into the outfield to make it 3-2 before the Profs could retire the side.
After a scoreless third inning, Snead would give Rowan some breathing room after belting a solo homerun over the left field fence in the fourth frame to make it 4-2.
In the fifth, the Bombers had a runner in scoring position when
Vanessa Brown doubled to left and would put another on base after Gavin earned a hard-fought walk, but the Profs would wiggle in and out of trouble again without allowing a run as it remained a two-run game.
Heading to the top of the sixth still trailing by a pair,
Allie Colleran provided the offense with a spark after leading off with a double to right-center. The sophomore moved to third after good situational hitting by
Alex Wright and eventually came around to score on an RBI-single up the middle by
Hannah Anderson to bring the Bombers within one, 4-3.
Rowan looked to blow things open in the bottom of the sixth after loading the bases before the Bombers had recorded an out, but senior pitcher
Laura Quicker stood tall in the circle and recorded three outs including a pair of strikeouts to keep her team's hopes alive heading into the top of the seventh.
In the final inning, Ithaca had the tying run on first base with its 2-3-4 hitters due up after
Jessie Fleck drew a four-pitch walk, but it was not to be as the Profs recorded an out on a fielder's choice before recording a game-ending double play to punch their ticket to Salem.
Rowan's starter, Beth Ann Hyland, was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher after closing out the series with 5.1 innings for her 25th win of the season.
Allison Macari (15-4) started the game for the Bombers and was credited with the loss after giving up four runs (two earned) in 3.2 innings. Haley Condgon tossed two-thirds of an inning and did not allow a run while Quicker went 1.2 innings in relief.
Ithaca, which tied an NCAA record with its 27th appearance in the NCAA Championship, had eight hits in all led by Robichaud's 2-for-3 effort. Brown, Colleran, Gavin, McQuillan, Anderson and Wright each had a hit.
Ithaca's five seniors played a pivotal role in the team's success over the last four seasons having won two Empire 8 Championship. The group played in two NCAA Championships and guided Ithaca to its first NCAA Regional Championship since 2010. In all, Ithaca went 107-53 during their time in a Bombers' uniform.