ITHACA PRESS CONFERENCE | BAY PATH PRESS CONFERENCE

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College softball team defeated Bay Path, 4-0, in its opening game of the 2018 NCAA Regional at Kostrinsky Field on Friday afternoon.
 
The Bombers move forward to play Manhattanville tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. Manhattanville is coming off a 3-1 win over Ramapo in the first game of today's doubleheader.
 
Ithaca wasted no time in getting on the board in the bottom of the first inning.
 
After reaching on an error, senior Allie Colleran stole second base to put herself in scoring position. Freshman Gabby Laccona then doubled to right centerfield to drive in Colleran for the first run of the game.
 
The Bombers put up another run in the bottom of the third inning, starting with a Laccona single to second base, which she followed up by stealing second. Laccona advanced to third on a Vanessa Brown ground out and went on to score on an Alex Wright single to center field.
 
In the top of the fourth inning, although Bay Path put a runner on base, freshman Beth Fleming struck the last two batters out to get out of the inning, which led the way for the Bombers to score another run in the bottom half of the inning.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Abby Shields blasted a homerun to left center to push IC's advantage to 3-0. The homer marks the first of the season for Shields and just the second of her career at Ithaca.
 
After three quick outs for Bay Path in the top of the fifth, the Bombers added to their run total in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Colleran led off with a single to left field before moving forward on a Laccona sacrifice bunt. Colleran went on to score on a Wright single to right center, giving IC a 4-0 edge on the Wildcats.
 
In the top of the seventh, Bay Path recorded its first hit on a Kayla Vance single to center, but Fleming struck out Taylor Feraco to end things and give IC the win.
 
Laccona finished 2-for-2 on the day with one run and one RBI while Shields went 2-for-3 with a homerun. Wright also finished 2-for-3 with two RBI in the win.
 
As a team, the Bombers stole a total of five bases against the Wildcats.
 
Fleming earned her 11^th win of the season, pitching a complete game with just one hit, no runs and eight strike outs.
 
The Bombers are back in action tomorrow at 11 a.m. against Manhattanville. The winner of the game moves to Sunday's final while the loser plays against at 4 p.m.