Box Score ITHACA, N.Y. – Despite 15 strikeouts from its pitching staff, the Ithaca College baseball team ended up on the wrong end of a 5-4 outcome to Rochester at Freeman Field on Thursday afternoon. It was Ithaca's home opener for 2015 and the Bombers are now 8-9 on the season.

Senior Zach Dickstein started on the mound for Ithaca and struck out six batters with no walks over five innings. Dickstein allowed seven hits and one earned run in a no decision. Junior Benji Parkes also fanned six hitters with no walks in 2.2 innings of relief. Senior Jimmy Wagner punched out three Yellowjackets in 1.1 innings of work and took the loss.

In the bottom of the first, sophomore Josh Savacool led off with a double and then junior Zach Cole singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. Both runners were retired on the next at bat on a fielder's choice – Cole was thrown out at second and Savacool attempted to score, but was gunned down at home.

Rochester threatened in the second on back-to-back hits with no outs. After a failed sacrifice bunt went down as a strikeout, the Yellowjacket runners moved up on a balk. Senior Cooper Belyea then picked off Rochester's runner at third, and then a ground out to first ended the inning.

The Bombers would take the first lead of the game in the bottom half of the second on an infield single from Savacool that plated junior Stephen Yanchus with the bases loaded.

Yanchus started the inning with a single to center field and advanced to second on a throwing error. Senior Matt Connolly doubled in the next at bat and senior Christian Brown walked to fill the bases. Two consecutive infield flies were recorded before Savacool's single.

Ithaca took a 3-0 lead on a two-run single to center from Connolly in the bottom of the third that brought Thompson and Pidgeon home. Thompson and Pidegon both singled to begin the inning and moved into scoring position on a long fly out by Yanchus.

Rochester got one run back in the fourth on a one-out double, but left two runners in scoring position.

In the top of the sixth, Rochester placed runners on second and third with no outs which forced Dickstein out of the game. The first two Yellowjackets reached base on a single and error after a strikeout in the dirt.

 Parkes entered in relief and struck out all three batters he faced with runners on second and third.

A bases loaded walk to Savacool in the bottom of the sixth added one more run to Ithaca's lead, 4-1. Brown scored on the free pass after reaching on a one-out double. Ithaca would end up leaving the bases loaded after a strikeout and fly out.

Rochester battled back with four runs in the top of the eighth to take a 5-4 lead. The inning started with a strikeout-wild pitch and followed with four singles – the last base hit drove in two runs.

Ithaca had an opportunity to tie or take the lead in the eighth on a blooper off the bat of junior John Stanley to left, but a diving catch ended the frame and kept the score at 5-4. The Bombers had runners on second and third on the play.

One runner reached for the Bombers in the ninth but could not advance past first.

Savacool, Yanchus, Connolly and Boresta all notched two hits each. Savacool and Connolly also drove in two runs apiece.

The Bombers are back in action this weekend at Utica for a three-game series. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. and Sunday's single contest starts at 11 a.m.

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