ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College softball team (9-5) lost two games to Cortland Wednesday night, falling to the Red Dragons 3-0 and 4-2 in the Bombers' home opener at Kostrinsky Field.

Game One
Senior Sam Bender was credited with the loss in game one after allowing three earned runs and six hits. She also picked up two strikeouts in her fourth complete game of the season. Juniors Francesca Busa and Monica Capolongo both picked up a singles in the contest. Capolongo also recorded a stolen base.

The Red Dragons jumped out to an early lead with a solo home run in the top of the first inning, sending a shot to left field for a 1-0 advantage. Cortland added insurance in the top of the sixth, hitting a two-run homer to take the 3-0 lead. Ithaca was unable to score in the remaining frames, giving Cortland the 3-0 win.

Game Two
Sophomore Laura Quicker started for the Bombers in game two. She allowed three hits and two earned runs in 3.0 innings while also recording four strikeouts. Classmate Allison Macari took over in the circle for the final 4.0 innings. She struck out three and held Cortland to zero earned runs. Freshman Jessie Fleck went 2-for-2 at the plate with a run scored. Senior Sydney Folk went 1-for-2 with a single and a RBI.

Cortland carried momentum from game one, jumping out to another 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Red Dragons added to the lead with two more runs in the third frame, before adding their final run in the top of the sixth to go up, 4-0.

The Bombers answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the Cortland lead in half. Fleck led off the frame with a single to right field, eventually moving to second on a groundout by Busa in the following at bat. Senior Julianne Vincent walked in her at bat, with Fleck moving to third due to a passed ball on the play. With runners at the corners, Folk singled to right field to bring Fleck home from third.  Vincent also broke home on the play, scoring due to an error on the Cortland catcher.

Despite Ithaca's rally in the sixth, the Bombers were unable to score again in the contest, giving Cortland the 4-2 win in game two.

Ithaca is back in action on April 5 in a road doubleheader with St. John Fisher. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.