Raleigh, N.C. -- The fourth-ranked softball team defeated #18 Ramapo 5-3 in an elimination game at the NCAA Championship Tournament at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. The win improved the Bombers record to 40-6 on the season, marking the first 40-win season in program history.

Ramapo (36-13) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before the Bombers plated five runs in the bottom of the third to take control of the game.

 

Junior Mel Chinigo (Norwich Free Academy/Norwich, Conn.) singled up the middle with the bases loaded to score classmate Hannah Shalett (Shepaug Valley/Bridgewater, Conn.) and tie the game at 1-1. Sophomore Stacy Pelesz (Hudson/Livingston) followed with a single through the right side of the infield that scored senior Kaitlyn Dulac (Bay View/East Greenwich, R.I.) and give Ithaca the lead for good at 2-1.

 

Two batters later with the bases still loaded, junior Jenn Marro (Bethlehem Central/Delmar) hit a bases-clearing double to left-center field that scored Chinigo, Pelesz and sophomore Jessica Stangarone (Brewster/Brewster) and gave the Bombers a 5-1 lead.

 

The Roadrunners got two runs back in the top of the fourth on a two-run homer, but that was as close as they would get as sophomore Nicole Cade (Beaverton/Portland, Ore.) retired the next three batters to end the inning and classmate Carly Myers (Claremont Secondary/Victoria, B.C.) pitched three shutout innings to close the game.

 

Cade allowed three runs on three hits with five strikeouts to improve to 22-3 on the season and is now tied for third on the team’s single-season win list with Abby Hanrahan and Robin Bimson. Myers allowed just one hit while striking out three batters to record her first save of the season.

 

Marro finished two-for-two with three RBIs, while Shalett and Stangarone each recorded two hits with a run scored.

 

Ithaca will next face the loser of the #1 St. Thomas/#2 Muskingum game Sunday, May 21, at 2:30 p.m. in an elimination game at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex.