ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College softball team defeated Manhattanville on Sunday afternoon to win the Ithaca, N.Y. region and advance to next weekend's NCAA Super Regional.
 
Manhattanville came out to win the first game, 6-5, to force another winner-take-all contest, which the Bombers won 6-3 to keep their season alive.
 
The Bombers now advance to face rival St. John Fisher in Super Regionals at a site to be determined. The best-of-three series begins on Friday afternoon and the winner will advance to the Division III Championship in Oklahoma City.
 
Game 2 | Ithaca 6, Manhattanville 3
 
The Bombers came out in full force in game two against the Valiants, scoring three runs in the first inning and three runs in the second inning.
 
Alex Wright drew a walk before Abby Shields reached on a fielder's choice. Both runners scored on a Nikkey Skuraton double to right center, putting the Bombers up 2-0, early.
 
Skuraton then went on to score and give IC a three-run edge on a Hannah Anderson single to left field.

In the top of the second, Vanessa Brown reached second on a dropped fly in center field before scoring on a Gabby Laccona double to left center to push IC's advantage to 4-0.
 
Wright followed that up with a single to shortstop which put runners on the corners. Laccona went on to score on a Shields ground out. The final IC run of the inning was driven in by Skuraton, who singled to second, allowing Wright to score and give the Bombers a 6-0 lead.
 
Manhattanville got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning with back-to-back homeruns from Dolores Diemicke and Aarin Hartenstein. The Bombers forced a pop up and Beth Fleming struck out two to get out of the inning with no further damage.
 
The Valiants' final run of the game came in the bottom of the fifth inning. Alexis Ventarola drew a walk to lead off the inning before stealing second. Diemicke then reached base on a fielder's choice, sending Ventarola to third.
 
Diemicke advanced to second on a passed ball before Jordyn Boyd drew walk to load the bases. Ali Orduna then walked which sent Ventarola home, cutting IC's lead to 6-3.
 
Pitcher Emily Holden struck out the final batter of the inning to end the Valiants' rally, leaving three runners stranded.
 
Fleming earned the win in the circle, her 12^th of the season, after striking out nine batters, scattering four hits and allowing three runs. Haley Congdon came on to pitch two innings of relief and earn her fourth save of the season.
 
Colleran went 3-for-4 at the plate while Shields and Skuraton both finished 2-for-4. Shields also recorded one run and one RBI while Skuraton has three RBI and one run.
 
Game 1 | Manhattanville 6, Ithaca 5
 
In the first game of the day, the Bombers wasted no time in putting up the first run.
 
After three quick outs in the top of the first for Manhattanville, IC put together a one-run bottom half of the inning, starting with a Laccona walk.
 
Laccona then advanced to second base on an Alex Wright ground out and scored when Abby Shields doubled up the middle.
 
The Valiants then struck in the top of the third inning to take a 2-1 lead over the Bombers.
 
Isela Casillas drew a walk before scoring on a Desiree Buboi double down the left field line. Buboi then added another run for Manhattanville, scoring on a Diemicke double to left center.
 
In what would prove to be the third of six lead changes between the Bombers and Valiants in game one, Ithaca grabbed the lead again in the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
Hannah Peters reached base on a third base throwing error before moving forward on an Emily Bloom sacrifice bunt.
 
Annie Cooney, who came in to run for Peters, advanced to third on a Skuraton ground out before scoring the tying run on an error during Colleran's at-bat.
 
Laccona followed that up with a single to third base which moved Colleran to third. All three runners on base moved up on a wild pitch, which allowed Colleran to score and give the Bombers a 3-2 edge over the Valiants.
 
IC's lead would be short-lived, however, as Manhattanville tied things up again in the top of the fifth inning.
 
Casillas led off with a single to right field before Buboi also singled to right. A Diemicke double to right center pushed Buboi to third and sent Casillas home, evening things up 3-3.
 
After three quick outs for IC in the bottom of the fifth, Manhattanville added another run in the top of the sixth. Orduna and Brooke Franson both drew walks to put runners on for the Valiants before Casillas singled to left field.
 
Alexis Ventarola singled up the middle which brought Franson home to give Manhattanville a 4-3 lead.
 
The Bombers would go on to take a lead in the bottom half of the inning, starting with a Skuraton double to center field. Laccona then singled to third base which allowed Skuraton to advance to third.
 
Skuraton then used her speed to score on a Wright sacrifice bunt, tying things up 4-4. The Bombers then took a lead on a Shields' triple, which allowed Laccona to score.
 
In the top of the seventh, however, Manhattanville took the lead for the final time. Diemicke led off with a single to shortstop before stealing second.
 
Boyd followed that up with a single through the left side, pushing Diemicke to third base. Diemicke went on to score on a passed ball to tie the game, 5-5, before Orduna drilled a double to left, scoring Strano, who was pinch running for Boyd.
 
Laccona went 2-for-3 in game one with two runs scored while Shields and Skuraton also finished 2-for-3 on the day. Shields also drove in two runs while Skuraton scored one.
 
All-Tournament Team
 
For her performance in the NCAA Regional, Shields was named Most Outstanding Player. She collected seven hits throughout four games while recording five RBI and scoring two runs.
 
Laccona, Congdon and Wright were also named to the All-Tournament Team along with Bay Path's Lauren Vallee, Ramapo's Jackie Howarth and Kristen Verrino, as well as Manhattanville's Casillas, Hartenstein and Diemicke.
 
Lauren Vallee, Bay Path, SR – Infield
Jackie Howarth, Ramapo, SO – First Base
Kristen Verrino, Ramapo, FR – Utility
Isela Casillas, Manhattanville, FR – Outfield
Aarin Hartenstein, Manhattanville, JR – Pitcher/Designated Player
Dolores Diemicke, Manhattanville, GR – Infield
Gabby Laccona, Ithaca, FR – Outfield
Haley Congdon, Ithaca, JR – Pitcher
Alex Wright, Ithaca, JR – First Base
 
Most Outstanding Player: Abby Shields, Ithaca, SO – Designated Player