ITHACA, N.Y. -- The second-seeded softball team defeated top-seeded Plattsburgh 4-2 in the NCAA Regional Championship Game to advance to the College World Series for the second consecutive season and for the eighth time in program history. Seniors Stacey Bartels (Skyview/Vancouver Wash.) and Kaitlyn Dulac (Bay View/East Greenwich, R.I.), juniors Jenn Marro (Bethlehem Central/Delmar) and Hannah Shalett (Shepaug Valley/Bridgewater, Conn.) and sophomores Nicole Cade (Beaverton/Portland, Ore.) and Stacy Pelesz (Hudson/Livingston) were named to the all-tournament team.

 

The Bombers (39-5) took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Dulac doubled to the right-center field wall to score sophomore Erica Cutspec (Fort Plain/Fort Plain) from first base. Ithaca doubled its lead to 2-0 in the third inning when Bonkowski, who came to the plate after the Cardinals (40-9) intentionally walked Dulac, doubled to left-center field and scored Shalett from second base.

 

The Bombers scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth as Bonkowski reached first on a two-out error, advanced to second after a single from junior Mel Chinigo (Norwich Free Academy/Norwich, Conn.) and scored on a Pelesz single down the left field line and give the Bombers a 3-0 lead.

 

Plattsburgh scored two runs in the top of the sixth to pull to within a run at 3-2, but the Ithaca answered with a runs in the bottom half of the inning for the 4-2 final. Marro walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Bartels. She scored two batters later on a single up the middle from Cutspec.

 

Cade allowed two runs on two hits with seven strikeouts to improve to 21-2 on the season. She was 3-0 in four tournament appearances with a 1.64 ERA and 29 strikeouts.

 

Bonkowski finished two-for-four at the plate with a run scored and a RBI. Dulac was two-for-three at the plate with a RBI.

 

The Bombers will next face the winner of the Rock Island Regional on Friday, May 19, at 1:30 p.m. at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh, N.C.