Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College softball team took two games from visiting Rensselaer Monday night, defeating the Engineers by a score of 3-0 in game one before winning the second contest in extra innings, 7-6.  The sweep improves the Bombers' record to 21-11 overall. The losses drop Rensselaer's overall record to 20-16.

Game 1: Ithaca - 3, Rensselaer - 0
Senior Sam Bender improved her record to 13-4 with the complete game victory in game one. She allowed just five hits and earned five strikeouts in the shutout. Senior Julianne Vincent paced the Bombers with three hits in four at bats, including a double. She scored two runs, picked up a RBI and was credited with a stolen base.

Ithaca got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead on two hits in the bottom of the opening frame. After a leadoff single from junior Francesca Busa, Vincent sent a double to left center in the following at bat to bring Busa home for the first Bomber run of the day.

Ithaca doubled its lead in the bottom of the third inning. With Vincent on second, sophomore Casey Gavin ripped a double to right center field. Casey's hit brought in another run to put the Bombers up, 2-0. A bases loaded walk gave Ithaca an insurance run in the fifth inning, putting the Bombers up by a score of 3-0.

The Engineers didn't have an answer for Bender, as she held Rensselaer off the score board to give the Bombers a 3-0 game one victory.   

Game 2: Ithaca - 7, Rensselaer - 6 (9 inn.)
All three of Ithaca's pitchers saw action in the second contest. Sophomore Allison Macari earned the victory, as she allowed just two hits and no runs in the final 2.0 innings of play. Bender started game two and allowed five hits and one earned run in the opening 2.0 innings. Sophomore Laura Quicker pitched the middle 5.0 innings. She allowed just two earned runs and recorded one strikeout.

Busa had an exceptional day at the plate, as she went 5-for-6 with a double, a run scored and two RBI. Freshman Jessie Fleck recorded four hits with a run scored and a RBI, while Gavin was 3-for-4 with two doubles. Vincent hit a home run in a 2-for-3 effort with two runs scored and two RBI.

The Engineers scored the game's first run on two hits in the top of the second to take the early 1-0 lead. The Bombers responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to go up, 2-1. After earning a two-out walk, junior Nina Lindberg stole second base to get into scoring position. Fleck singled down the right field line in the following at bat to bring Lindberg home. After Fleck stole second, Busa sent a double to right center to score the second Bomber run of the frame.

Ithaca added insurance in the bottom of the third. With runners on second and third, junior Nicole Ciricillo sent a single down the left field line to score two more runs and give the Bombers a 4-1 lead. Ithaca continued to pile on the offense in the fourth, as Vincent hit a two-run home run to put the Bombers up by a score of 6-1.

Rensselaer chipped away offensively in the top of the fifth, as the Engineers scored two runs on two hits to cut the Bomber lead in half. Rensselaer continued to rally in the sixth. The Engineers put up three more runs on two hits in the frame to tie the score at 6-6. Neither team was able to score in the seventh, sending the game to extra innings.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth and Lindberg on first, Fleck singled to left field to put runners at first and second. Busa sent a single to right center in the following at bat, scoring Lindberg for the game winning run to give Ithaca the 7-6 victory.

The Bombers are back in action this weekend, as Ithaca will host the Empire 8 Tournament at Kostrinsky Field. The double elimination tournament will start on Friday, May 2 with the Bombers' first game coming at 12 p.m. against Utica. Stevens and Alfred will play in the opening game of the tournament at 10 p.m.

Friday, May 2
Game 1: No. 2 Stevens vs. No. 3 Alfred - 10 a.m.
Game 2: No. 4 Utica vs. No. 1 Ithaca - 12 p.m. 
Game 3: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 -  2 p.m. 
Game 4: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 - 4 p.m. 

Saturday, May 3
Game 5: Winner of Game 3 v Loser of Game 4 - 11 a.m.
Game 6: Winner of Game 4 v Winner of Game 5 - 1 p.m.

Sunday, May 4
Game 7: If necessary