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ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College softball team is set to host the 2019 Liberty League Championship, starting Thursday. The tournament features two games on Thursday, three on Friday and up to two on Saturday, with a rain date Sunday.
 
Ithaca finished the 11-1 in the Liberty League to clinch the regular-season title and earn hosting rights for the tournament. IC welcomes No. 2 Rochester, No. 3 RPI and No. 4 Clarkson for the double-elimination tournament at Kostrinsky Field.
 
The Bombers are currently 23-7-1 heading into the tournament as they look for their second Liberty League title in as many seasons since joining the conference in 2017.
 
Senior Vanessa Brown leads both the team and the Liberty League with a .447 batting average. She is also among the top five in the conference in runs (33), hits (46) and doubles (11). Brown also has a team-high five home runs on the season.
 
Junior Emily Holden leads the league with a 0.81 ERA. She has made 18 appearances, primarily in relief and boasts a 7-2 record on the season. Sophomore Beth Fleming is also among the top five for ERA and strikeouts, as she is third with a 1.41 ERA and 97 strikeouts. Fleming also leads IC's pitching staff with 79.2 innings pitched and a 10-2 season mark.
 
Scouting No. 2 Rochester
 
The Yellowjackets are currently 19-17 on the season and finished the regular-season Liberty League slate with a 9-5 mark. Rochester is 3-3 against the championship field, completing the sweep of RPI on April 7 and splitting with Clarkson on April 21. The Bombers swept Rochester on Saturday, April 13, winning the first game, 4-2, and the second, 6-1.
 
Alizah Ayon leads the team with a .407 batting average, 46 hits, 36 RBI and 12 home runs. Her 36 RBI and 12 home runs lead the Liberty League. Harleigh Kaczegowicz has a team-high 30 runs scored for the Yellowjackets.
 
In the circle, Elizabeth Bourne has made 23 appearances and is 8-7 on the year with a 2.71 ERA. She has pitched a team-high 108.1 innings and struck out 39.
 
Scouting No. 3 RPI
 
The Engineers sit a 27-9 on the year and finished their Liberty League schedule with a 9-5 mark. RPI posted a 2-4 record against this year's championship field. Rochester swept the Engineers, before they settled for a split with both Clarkson and Ithaca. RPI was the lone Liberty League team to hand the Bombers a loss during the 2019 regular-season.
 
Veronica DeStefano leads the team with a .438 batting average, 38 runs scored, 56 hits and 10 doubles. Those numbers also put her among the top players in the Liberty League, as she leads the conference in hits and is second for runs.
 
In the circle Erika Holowka has made 22 appearances with a 13-4 overall record and a 2.66 ERA. Jaime Cleasby leads the Engineers with a 2.33 ERA has she has made 16 appearances and has an 8-3 record.
 
Scouting No. 4 Clarkson
 
The Golden Knights are 25-13 on the season and wrapped up Liberty League play with a 9-5 record. Clarkson is 2-4 against the championship field, as they were swept by the Bombers and split with RPI and Rochester.
 
Raeanna Dunn is the top threat at the plate for Clarkson as she has a team-high .420 batting average, 36 runs and 55 hits. Her 55 hits is second in the Liberty League, just behind RPI's Veronica DeStefano who leads with 56.
 
Olivia Zoeller has notched 14 starts in her 22 appearances in the circle and leads the Golden Knights with a 2.14 ERA and a 10-6 record. Her 101 strikeouts on the season lead the Liberty League. Sam Mennig has started 14 of her 20 appearances in 2019, has a 8-3 record and a 2.98 ERA.
 
Game Schedule
 
Thursday, May 2
Game 1: Ithaca vs. Clarkson – 12 p.m.
Game 2: Rochester vs. RPI – 2:30 p.m.
 
Friday, May 3
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 – 10 a.m.
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 – 12:30 p.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 3 vs Winner Game 4 – 3 p.m.
 
Saturday, May 4
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 – 12 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Same teams as game 6