ITHACA, N.Y. – The 13th-ranked Ithaca softball team (10-4) split a doubleheader against visiting Rochester (10-8) Sunday afternoon at Kostrinsky Field in the Bombers' home-opening series. Ithaca dropped the first game 1-0 but rallied back to take the second game by a 5-4 score. Ithaca returns to action Tuesday for a pair of games at #22 Cortland.

Rochester 1, #13 ITHACA 0 | Box Score

Ithaca was limited to just three hits, all singles, in the first game and Allison Greaney (John F. Kennedy/Iselin, N.J.) was the tough-luck loser. Greaney allowed just one run, allowed four hits and had six strikeouts. The game-winning hit was a 15-foot dribbler that stopped on the first-base line.

#13 ITHACA 5, Rochester 4 | Box Score

The Bomber victory in game two was highlighted by a two-run homer from freshman Jackie Branco (West Essex/Roseland, N.J.) who smashed a towering shot off of the scoreboard in left field. It was Branco's first-career home run, and she also drove in a run in Ithaca's two-run fourth inning that provided the decisive margin. Sophomore Jennifer Biondi (Morris Hills/Rockaway, N.J.) was 3-for-3 in the game and scored two runs.

Freshman Jillian Olmstead (Caesar Rodney/Magnolia, Del.) started and picked up the win, improving to 3-1 on the year. She went five innings and struck out six Yellowjackets, allowing seven hits. Senior Britt Lillie (Honeoye Falls-Lima/Mendon) pitched the final two innings to get the save. Lillie struck out the side in the top of the sixth and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh.