PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The Ithaca College softball team opened its conference schedule and scored 31 total runs as the Bombers took the both ends of a doubleheader against Nazareth College on Saturday at Flyer Field.  With the wins, Ithaca moved to 13-5 overall and has now won seven of its last eight contests.  Nazareth moved to 9-7 with the decisions.

Ithaca 12, Nazareth 1 (Five Innings)

 The Bombers had 10 runs batted in and scored with 12 runs scored while senior pitcher Laura Quicker picked up her seventh win of the season after going five strong innings.  Quicker surrendered just one run on six hits and struck out five in the win.

Ithaca didn't waste any time putting the Golden Flyers in a hole after the Bombers plated a run in the top of the first inning.  Nikkey Skuraton tripled to right field and scored when Vanessa Brown singled up the middle to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

After a scoreless home half of the inning, Ithaca put the game out of reach in the second with seven runs of three hits.  IC loaded the bases before Erin McQuillan and Emily Bloom each lined RBI-singles to make it a three-run game.  As the inning continued, both Allie Colleran and Skuraton drew a walk with the bases loaded to give Ithaca a 5-0 edge before Brown smacked an RBI-groundout that scored Bloom.  Ithaca would score two more runs in the inning after an error by Nazareth's right fielder made it 8-0 in the Bombers' favor before the Golden Flyers could get out of the jam.

Ithaca would score two runs in the fourth and fifth innings when Skuraton and Hannah Anderson each blasted two-run homeruns to make it 10-0.

The Golden Flyers would score their lone run of the contest in the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer, but Quicker would strike out the side to preserve the win.

Nine different players recorded at least one hit led by Skuraton who went 2-for-2 at the dish with a homerun, a triple, three RBI, three runs scored and a walk.  Brown was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in of her own.

Ithaca 19, Nazareth 13

In the nightcap, Ithaca scored a season-high 19 runs and pounded out 22 hits overall led by Kelly Robichaud who went 5-for-6 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Ithaca got off to another strong start after scoring three runs in the top of the first with the big blow coming in the form of a two-run single by Casey Gavin.

The Golden Flyers would get two back in the home half of the first and eventually take a one-run lead in the second inning after grinding out three hits.

Ithaca reclaimed the lead in the top of the third with Jessie Fleck and Skuraton each collecting an RBI to give the Bombers the lead, 6-5, but the Golden Flyers would storm back with four runs on three more hits in the bottom of the frame to take a 9-6 lead into the fourth.

After four straight batters reached base for Ithaca, Hannah Anderson would put the Bombers up for good after clearing the bases with a grand slam to stake the visitors to an 11-9 lead.

Ithaca posted a five-spot on the scoreboard in the seventh with five more hits including a two-run double down the right field line by Colleran to make it 19-11.  Nazareth would score two in the final half inning of play before Quicker ended any chance of a comeback.

Allison Macari got the start in the circle for the Bombers but did not factor in the decision.  Haley Congdon threw 4.1 innings in relief and was credited with the win after giving up seven runs on five hits.  Quicker picked up the save after pitching the final 1.2 innings of work.
 
Ithaca will continue conference play at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 when it travels to Elmira for a doubleheader.