ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball team was unable to overcome a seven-run fifth inning by visiting Stevens Institute of Technology in Empire 8 Conference action on Monday afternoon at Freeman Field, and fell to the Ducks, 8-4. Defensive miscues and a grand slam led to the outburst to drop Ithaca to 8-7 on the season and 1-2 in the Empire 8, while Stevens evened its record to 9-9 and 2-1 in conference play.

Monday's win for Stevens marks the first time that the Ducks have taken a season series from Ithaca since the teams began their rivalry in 2008.
 
Ithaca scored the game's opening run with an RBI single to centerfield from Webb Little, bringing home Jack Lynch, in the top of the third. Lynch found his way on base by way of an error two batters prior.

The score remained stagnant for the next two innings until Stevens bounced back with seven runs in the top of the fifth to take control of the game.
 
Stevens tied the game at 1-1 after a sacrifice bunt turned into a run for the Ducks, after a throwing error by the Bombers defense sailed past third base in an attempt to gun down the lead runner.

Now with runners on first and second, another bunt attempt was laid down to load the bases. Sacrifice flies in two of the next three plate appearances increased Stevens' lead to 3-1. A walk to the next batter knocked senior Tyler Hill out of the game and classmate Chris Marinaccio entered in relief.
 
Upon bringing Marinaccio out of the bullpen, Stevens' Patrick Rood would come at bat to hit a grand slam on the first pitch he saw to clear the bases and give the Ducks a 7-1 advantage.
 
Going scoreless in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bombers brought in junior Matt Eiel to pitch in the top of the sixth. However, Stevens was still able to bring another runner in as the Ducks plated a run with another sac fly to make the score 8-1.
 
The Bombers would not go down without a fight, however, as they were able to bring runners in off a sacrifice fly from junior Adam Gallagher in the bottom of the sixth. A double from junior Sam Little that scored W. Little and senior Domenic Boresta made the score 8-4 in the bottom of the seventh, but Stevens' pitcher Joseph Deitz would enter in relief and held Ithaca scoreless for the last two innings, ending the game with the score, 8-4.
 
Hill took the loss in 4.2 innings pitched as he gave up two hits and six runs (one earned) and struck out two batters. Eiel finished out the game in 3.2 innings of relief, giving up three hits with two strikeouts.
 
Ithaca's returns back to action tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. against No. 17 Oswego State.