ITHACA, N.Y.--The Bombers (19-17, 11-5 Empire 8) closed conference play Sunday by splitting a doubleheader with Rochetser Institute of Technology (17-19, 6-10 Empire 8). The Bombers dropped the first game 8-2 before taking the nightcap 10-1. Starting pitchers Tom Fishback (Penfield/Webster) and Andrew Wall (Newfield/Newfield) threw complete games for Ithaca, with Wall striking out a career-high 13.

Wall moved to 4-3 on the season with his game two victory. He faced the first 14 batters before allowing a hit and surrendered just three over his seven innings. Wall has 43 strikeouts in 43 innings this season.

The Bombers got on the board early in game two, scoring four runs in the first. Senior #T.J. Abone# (Rome Free Academy/Rome) led off the inning with a double. After two outs, the Bombers got consecutive singles from junior David Ahonen (Victor/Farmington), freshman Sean Weber (Columbia/East Schodack) and senior Jon Krakower (The Berkshire School/Albany) to plate the first two runs of the frame. Freshman Matt Keller (Pelham/Pelham) drove in two more runs on an opposite-field double.

Up 5-1, the Bombers broke the game open with a five-run fifth. Junior Matt Streich (East Greenwich/East Greenwich, R.I.) double to lead off the inning and scored on a single from classmate Trevor Wolf (Lansing/Freeville). Ahonen pulled a double down the left field line to bring Wolf home. Keller drove a run in on an RBI groundout, with Abone and sophomore Mike Preite (Hopkinton/Hopkinton, Mass.) both picking up two-out run-scoring doubles.

Abone and Keller each batted .500 over the doubleheader, with Abone going 4-for-8 and Keller 3-for-6. Keller drove in a team-high three runs while Abone hit three doubles. The two both scored two runs, as did Ahonen.

In game one, the Tigers got on the scoreboard first with a three-run top of the second. Junior Jarrod Surine (Trumansburg/Trumansburg) drove in Keller on a double in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 3-1.

RIT scored two runs in the fourth and three more in the seventh to stretch the lead to 8-1. Ithaca scored its second run in the seventh when a Streich groundout plated senior cathcer Miek Armstrong (Penfield/Penfield).

The Bombers return to action Saturday with a game against Montclair State.

Game one box score

Game two box score