UNION, N.J. – The nationally ranked No. 21/19 Ithaca College baseball team saw its 2019 season come to a close on Saturday afternoon at Jim Hynes Stadium on the campus of Kean University as the Bombers fell to Shenandoah University, 9-2, in the NCAA Division III Union, N.J. Regional. With the loss, Ithaca went 0-2 in regional play and finished the season with a 31-9 record.

Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Ithaca trailed Shenandoah, 2-1, and in that half-inning, the entire complexion of the game changed. The Hornets quickly put two runners on with base hits off senior Jake Binder and then a fielder's choice retired the first out. SU's next batter hit a line drive up the middle, which caught the lower leg of Binder, which forced a stoppage of play to check on the senior hurler.

After several minutes, Binder got back on the mound and Shenandoah immediately dropped down consecutive suicide squeeze bunts to bring home two runs to make the score 4-1. A groundout ensued to bring in the third run of the inning and a walk followed to knock Binder out of the game. After the pitching change, Shenandoah scored three more runs to cap off a six-run outburst and turn a one-run battle into an 8-1 blowout.

The Bombers had a chance early in the game to take control of the momentum as IC loaded the bases in the first inning with one out. Senior Adam Gallagher walked with one out and then senior Sam Little reached on an error. Junior Buzz Shirley then beat out an infield single to load the bases, but a double play kept IC off the board.

Ithaca would get on the board first, however, as the Bombers scored a run in the top of the second inning on an RBI double down to the left field line by senior Matt Carey to plate sophomore Garrett Callaghan all the way from first. Callaghan led off the inning with a base hit up the middle. On May 20, Carey was named to the regional all-tournament team.

The Hornets would answer with a two-run home run to right field in the bottom half of the second to take a 2-1 advantage.

IC had another chance to tie the game in the top of the fifth as senior Webb Little stroked a one-out double down the left field line to set up a runner in scoring position. Two batters later, S. Little ripped a liner to left-center and it looked destined for extra bases and an RBI, but Shenandoah's left field, Keegan Woolford, made a spectacular diving catch to end the inning.

After the six-run frame for SU, the Bombers attempted to fight back in the seventh with a pair of singles, but once again could not bring a run home.

Ithaca finally got back on the board in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Jack Lynch to score Shirley. On that play, Hornet right field Grant Thompson saved two runs from scoring on another highlight reel catch.

The final run of the game crossed in the bottom of the eighth on back-to-back doubles by Shenandoah.

Carey and Shirley each had two hits for the Bombers, who finished the game with 10, but IC left 12 runners on base.

Binder took the loss in 5.1 innings pitched with four strikeouts, while junior Tom Cosentino tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. Senior Matt Eiel threw the ninth inning for IC.

It was the 48th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament for Ithaca, which owns a 126-97 overall record in postseason games.