ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Ithaca College baseball team (24-8-1, 12-4 Empire 8) retook first place in the Empire 8 Saturday, beating Utica (10-27, 2-13 Empire 8) 3-0.

The Bombers, who are ranked fourth in the latest NCAA New York Region poll, clinched at least a tie for the Empire 8 title and can win the championship outright with a win in either of Sunday's games or a loss by St. John Fisher (28-10, 11-6 Empire 8); the Cardinals (who were second in the regional ranking) were swept by 5-9 Stevens 3-0 and 6-3.

Freshman Jimmy Wagner allowed three hits over eight shutout innings and senior Tucker Healy picked up his 15th career save – one short of Ithaca's school record – as the Bombers improved to 47-3-1 all-time against the Pioneers.

Wagner struck out six in improving to 5-2. He allowed more than one base runner in only one inning and picked two runners off base. Healy struck out two batters to record his fifth save of the spring.

Sophomore shortstop Tim Locastro and senior first baseman Mike Preite led Ithaca's 12-hit attack with three hits apiece. They combined to generate Ithaca's first run with Preite leading off the third inning with the first of his two doubles then scoring on Locastro's two-out squeeze bunt.

In the fourth, senior second baseman Matt Keller led off with a single. He moved to second on a wild pitch and took third on an infield grounder before scoring on a single by freshman Vinnie Gneo. Preite's second double in as many innings brought Gneo home.

The Bombers and Pioneers play a noon doubleheader Sunday at Freeman Field.

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