Rochester, N.Y.--The 24th-ranked Bombers (11-3, 2-0 Empire 8) picked up a pair of extra-inning victories over Rochester Institute of Technology Friday afternoon, winning 6-5 and 5-3. The Tigers (3-11, 0-2 Empire 8) were the preseason favorites in the Empire 8 coaches' poll. Ithaca won its sixth and seventh consecutive games.

In the opener, senior first baseman Alan Kartholl (John Jay/Fishkill) hit a two-run double in the eighth-inning to break a 4-4 tie, and senior right-hander Pete MacDaniel (Schuylerville/Gansevoort) pitched a complete game to pick up his fourth win of the season.

Sophomore Matt Streich (East Greenwich/East Greenwich, R.I.) reached on an error to lead off the eighth inning, and moved to third on a double from sophomore designated hitter Trevor Wolf (Lansing/Freeville). Kartholl came up next and lined his two-bagger down the leftfield line to score both baserunners.

In the bottom of the inning, MacDaniel allowed a one-out home run to cut the lead to one, but got a flyout and a popout to secure the win and improve to 4-0 through four starts. MacDaniel struck out five in his eight innings of work, walking just one Tiger. He allowed eight hits.

Ithaca twice rallied from deficits in the game. In the third, Senior Matt Samela (Staples/Westport, Conn.) hit an RBI double and senior Kurt Bednarcyk (Fairport/Fairport) added a run-scoring single to give the Bombers a 2-1 lead.

After RIT scored three times in the bottom of the inning, Ithaca tied the score at four with a pair of runs in the fourth. Junior #T.J. Abone# (Rome Free Academy/Rome) knocked in the first run in the inning with a single, and junior Mike Armstrong (Penfield/Penfield) tied the game with a running-scoring fielder's choice.

Samela and Abone both had two hits for the Bombers in the game one win.

Sophomore Rob Zappia (Greece Athena/Rochester) drove in the game-winning run in the second game, knocking in Kartholl on an RBI single. Zappia himself would score on a base hit from Armstrong.

Freshman Tucker Healy (Needham/Needham, Mass.) picked up his first career win, pitching the final 1 2/3 of the game. He entered with runners on first and second and promptly induced a double play. He pitched a perfect ninth, striking out the game's final batter.

Sophomore Aaron Sapp (Niskayuna/Niskayuna) started the game for the Bombers. In 6 1/3 innings pitched he struck out six Tigers. He allowed eight hits and a pair of walks.

Bednarcyk and Zappia had multi-hit games for Ithaca, with Zappia driving in two. Streich, Kartholl and Zappia all hit doubles in the nightcap.

The two teams play another doubleheader Saturday, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

Game one box score

Game two box score