CANTON, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball team used a six-run ninth inning to put the final game of a three-game Empire 8 Conference series with SUNY Canton out of reach and went on the prevail, 12-3. Ithaca, now winners of six straight, is 16-8 on the season and 8-3 in the Empire 8, while Canton drops to 5-19 and 1-9 in the E8.

The Bombers opened up the contest with two runs in the top of the first inning on a two-run, two-out double by senior Ryan Henchey to plate senior Trevor Thompson and sophomore Sam Little, who both reached by on hit by pitches.

Neither team could score over the next two-and-a-half innings until Canton got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on an error by Ithaca to make the score 2-1. The Bombers committed three errors in the inning, which led to the run for Canton.

Ithaca would extend its lead to 5-1 after the fifth inning on a two-run double from sophomore Sam Little to bring in senior Josh Savacool and sophomore Webb Little. A batter later, senior Ryan Henchey drove in Thompson with a sacrifice fly.

The Bombers added another run in the sixth on a double from junior Domenic Boresta, which allowed sophomore Adam Gallagher to score after he reached on a two-base hit.

In the bottom of the sixth, Canton ended junior Jack Morello's no-hit bid with an RBI single to make the score 6-2.

That was the only hit Morello would surrender over seven innings of work. He stuck out four batters and also walked four for his second victory of the season.

The Kangaroos strung three straight hits together in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull to within a 6-3 difference, but W. Little relieved freshman Tom Cosentino and proceeded to retire the next three batters.

In the six-run ninth, W. Little led off with a double, Thompson walked and S. Little singled to load the bases. A free pass to Henchey pushed home the first run on the frame and the next run scored on a groundout by sophomore Jon Peterson. Gallagher stepped to the plate and drove in two runs with a base hit and the moved all the way up to third on a passed ball and wild pitch. He would score on a triple by Boresta to make the score 11-3, and then another wild pitch allowed Boresta to scamper home for the final run of the game.

Sophomore Robby Buffis wrapped up the contest with a perfect ninth inning and struck out one.

Boresta, Gallagher, S. Little and W. Little each collected two hits on Saturday. Henchey drove in four runs in a 1-for-2 day at the plate, while Thompson scored three times in two official at bats.

Ithaca heads to Houghton College for a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 19. Game One of the twin bill is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.