Ithaca Topped by No. 7 Oswego, 11-10, on Walk-Off Single
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball team suffered a heartbreaking 11-10 loss to No. 7 Oswego State in the opening game of the NCAA New York Regional on Thursday at Onondaga Community College's Baseball Complex. Ithaca led, 10-7, heading to the bottom of the ninth, but the Lakers scored four runs in their last at bat to walk-off with the victory. Ithaca is now 28-12 on the season, while Oswego is 29-8.
Oswego took an early lead as it scored three runs in the bottom of the first on three hits. The Lakers loaded the bases with no outs and then a double brought in two runs, while the third was thrown out at the plate on an 8-6-2 relay. A triple ensued for the Lakers to bring in their third run of the inning, but another run was gunned down at the plate on a groundball to senior
Trevor Thompson.
Ithaca got two runs back in the top of the third inning. Junior
Domenic Boresta reached on an error to lead-off the frame, and then sophomore
Matt Carey and W. Little followed with bloop singles to plate Boresta. With runners on the corners, Thompson lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Carey.
The Bombers would take the lead in the fifth inning, 5-3, with three runs on four hits. Savacool and W. Little led off with singles, and after a fielder's choice on an attempted sac bunt retired Savacool, S. Little notched a base hit to load the bases. Senior
Ryan Henchey drove two runs, W. Little and Thompson, with a double to left-center and then sophomore
Adam Gallagher pushed home S. Little with a sac fly to right.
In the top of the sixth, W. Little scored from first base on a dropped fly ball in left field and then S. Little drilled a two-run home run to right to extend Ithaca's lead to 8-3.
Oswego fought back in the bottom half of the sixth inning with four runs to make the score 8-7. A solo homer led off the frame of the Lakers and then back-to-back singles drove in two more. The final run of the inning scored on a wild pitch.
The Bombers two crucial runs in the top of the ninth inning with two outs. S. Little led off with a double and moved to third on a double play. He would then scamper home on a wild pitch to give the Bombers a two-run cushion at 9-7. One pitch later, Gallagher roped a solo homer over the centerfield fence for Ithaca's 10th run of the game.
In the bottom of the ninth, Oswego led off with a single to start the rally. After a fielder's choice, three straight walks brought in a run. A wild pitch brought Oswego to within a 10-9 difference, and then a single to center by Wes Randall plated two runs for the walk-off.
The Bombers recorded 15 hits in the loss and tagged Oswego's starting pitcher, Tim Cronin, for 12 hits and eight runs (three earned) in six innings pitched. Cronin brought a 1.82 ERA into the contest.
S. Little went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI, while W. Little was 3-for-5. Henchey, Savaool and Boresta each tallied two hits for the Bombers.
Junior
Robby Buffis started on the mound for Ithaca and went 5.2 innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts. Sophomore
Andrew Bailey was dealt the loss as he gave up two runs in the ninth.
Ithaca will play at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning against Castleton.