ITHACA, N.Y. – The 18th-ranked Ithaca College baseball team improved to 29-6 on the season after sweeping a doubleheader against the visiting New Paltz Hawks on Saturday afternoon at Freeman Field. The first game of the twin bill was a nine inning game, the nightcap was seven innings. The Bombers used 22 hits and 9 runs on the day to cruise to two victories by the scores of 3-2 and 6-1. The Bombers return to play tomorrow in Ithaca for a nine-inning game against the visiting York Spartans. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Ithaca 3, New Paltz 2 | Box Score and Play-by-Play

After allowing a run in the top half of the first inning the Bombers answered with a run of their own to even the score in the bottom of the third. Christian Brown and Tim Locastro set the table with back-to-back singles. After advancing to third base on Locastro's single, Brown later scored after Tim Henry reached on fielding error by the shortstop.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Ithaca added to its lead. Matt Connolly led off the inning with a bunt single and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Just moments later, junior Luke Stark singled to right-center field scoring Connolly to make the score 2-1.

The Bombers added another run to their lead in the following inning as Tim Henry singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Stephen Yanchus. After advancing to third on a single by Corey Caswell, Henry scored when Vinny Gneo hit an RBI single up the middle.

Brown, Locastro, and Stark each had two hits in the game. Gneo and Stark each had runs batted in.

John Prendergast started on the mound for Ithaca earning his eighth win of the season by going eight strong innings, allowing just one earned run, striking out six, and not walking a batter. David Jasukonis earned the save in relief for the Bombers after pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

Ithaca 6, New Paltz 1 | Box Score and Play-by-Play

The Bombers got the scoring started early in game two, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Christian Brown led off the inning with a double to left field and was directly followed by a Tim Locastro single advancing Brown to third. Brown then scored on a Tim Henry groundout. An infield single by Max Addy put runners at the corners and set up the next scoring opportunity for Ithaca. With two outs in the inning Addy broke for second prompting a throw from the visiting catcher, and successfully stealing second base. On the throw, Locastro who was on third base scampered home for the Bombers second run making the score 2-0.

After the New Paltz offense cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the third, the Ithaca offense answered with 4 runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. The Bombers got started with back-to-back singles from Locastro and Tim Henry, and Colby Gee was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. A sacrifice fly by Max Addy then scored Locastro to make the score 3-1. Two continuous wild pitches made the score 5-1 as Tim Henry and Colby Gee both scored. After a walk by senior Kevin Primm, a single by Matt Connolly, and a walk by Luke Stark, the Bombers loaded the bases again. Andrew Turner then made the score 6-1 with a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Primm.

Brown, Locastro, Henry, and Addy each had two hits in the game. Locastro also scored two runs.

Jimmy Wagner started on the mound for the Bombers and pitched six innings, allowing just one run, and striking out five to earn his eighth win. Junior Chris Anderson finished on the mound for Ithaca pitching a scoreless seventh inning.