Hoboken, N.J. -- The Ithaca College baseball team (11-4-1, 2-1 Empire 8) split an Empire 8 doubleheader at Stevens (14-9, 1-2 Empire 8) Sunday, hammering the host Ducks 9-2 in the opener and losing game two 10-6.

In game one, junior catcher Kevin Primm drove in a career-high four runs and senior first baseman Kevin Preite and  left center fielder Andrew Turner both added three hits. Freshman John Prendergast earned the win by holding the Ducks to one run over five innings. He raised his record to 4-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.91.

Ithaca scored nine runs over the second and third innings of the first game to erase the Ducks' 1-0 lead. Primm's three-run double highlighted Ithaca's four-run outburst and an inning later he added a run-scoring sacrifice fly.

Primm's bases-clearing double was Ithaca's fourth straight one-out hit in the second; Preite, freshman Max Addy and Turner each singled before Primm's three-run double. Sophomore shortstop Tim Locastro – who had two hits in the game – beat out a bunt that moved Primm to third and sophomore center fielder Mike Rosenbaum followed with a sacrifice fly.

The Bombers set up their five-run third by loading the bases with one out. Senior right fielder Teagen Barresi was hit by a pitch before Preite and Addy singled. Turner reached on a fielder's choice, Primm brought in a run with a fly ball to right field, Rosenbaum and senior second baseman Matt Keller singled in runs and Barresi drew a bases-loaded walk.

Prendergast allowed a home run to the second batter of the game, then shut the Ducks out for the rest of his five-inning stint. Stevens never put more than one man on base or advanced a runner to second over Prendergast's final 4.2 innings.

He struck out seven, marking the third time he's reached that total in his six starts.

Andrew Sanders threw a perfect sixth and Ian Rebhan struck out two Ducks in the seventh to close out the win.

In game two Ithaca jumped out to a 4-0 lead, then rallied after Stevens had opened up a 10-4 advantage. The Ducks scored four times in the fourth, took the lead with a sixth-inning run and tacked on five runs in the seventh.

Preite's second home run of the day – a two-run shot in the top of the eighth (Empire 8 doubleheaders are a seven-inning opener and a nine-inning game two) cut the Stevens lead to 10-6 and the Bombers brought the tying run to the on-deck circle as freshman second baseman Jeffrey Mathers walked and sophomore catcher Corey Caswell singled but Stevens turned a double play and retired Ithaca in order in the ninth.

Keller's leadoff home run started a four-run fourth inning that included RBI singles by Caswell (who had a career-best three hits) and Turner. A fourth run scored when Locastro reached on a Stevens error.

Keller, Preite and sophomore third baseman Colby Gee each had two of Ithaca's 12 hits. Gee scored two runs; Preite  drove in two runs and scored a pair.

Ithaca hosts Oneonta Wednesday in a non-conference game at Freeman Field.
 
Game one box score | Game two box score