Kissimmee, Fla. -- The fifth-ranked softball team defeated Baldwin-Wallace 6-4 on Thursday at the Rebel Games. Senior outfielder Leigh Bonkowski (The Williams School/Mystic, Conn.) went three-for-four with four RBI's in the win. She now ranks third in career RBI's (100) and ffith in career hits (148).

Ithaca took a 2-0 lead after the first inning when Bonkowski singled to drive in junior catcher Hannah Shalett (Shepaug Valley, Bridgewater, Conn.) and later scored on a RBI-single from junior outfielder Mel Chinigo (Norwich Free Academy/Norwich, Conn.). The Bombers led 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth when Bonkowski sent a three-two pitch over the fence for a two-run, two-out home run, giving Ithaca (6-1) a 5-2 lead.

Baldwin-Wallace answered with runs in the fifth and sixth innings before Bonkowski hit one-out double in the bottom of the sixth to score sophomore shortstop Erica Cutspec (Fort Plain/Fort Plain) for the 6-4 final.

Sophomore pitcher Carly Myers (Claremont Secondary/Victoria, British Columbia) got three of the four batters she faced in the seventh to ground out and secure the win. She improved to 3-1 on the season after making her first relief appearance of the season. Freshman Jessie Derbyshire (Upper Dublin/Dresher, Pa.) started the game, striking out five in 3.1 innings pitched.

The Bombers will next face Maryville at 11:30 a.m.

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