ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College softball team earned a first-round win in the Liberty League Championship on Thursday afternoon in thrilling fashion.
 
After nine and one-half innings of scoreless play, Ithaca finally broke the stalemate to win the game.
 
With two outs, senior Hannah Anderson drilled a double to center field to put a runner in scoring position. Sophomore Gabby Laccona then hit a single up the middle to bring in Julia Loffredo, who was pinch running for Anderson.
 
With the win, the Bombers improve to 24-7-1 on the season and move on to play RPI tomorrow. RPI advanced with a 4-2 win over Rochester in the second game of the day.
 
Ithaca's Beth Fleming, who finished with a career-high 14 strikeouts on the day, got out of a tricky spot for the Bombers in the first inning.
 
Raeanna Dunn led off with a double to left and stole third before Danielle Whitham drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Michele Winn was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Fleming struck out the final two batters to prevent any runs from crossing the plate.
 
For the next four and one-half innings, both teams went three-up-three-down before the Bombers recorded their first hit in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, Annie Cooney drilled a single down the left field line, but was left stranded.
 
Clarkson recorded another hit in the top of the eighth inning as Kayla Robert singled to third base and advanced to second on a Maddie Brink sacrifice bunt. Ithaca forced a fly out and Fleming struck out the final batter of the inning to keep the Golden Knights off the board once again.
 
In the top of the ninth inning, Clarkson .had opportunities to score, but could not produce a run.
 
Liz Caggiano got things going with a single up the middle before Winn singled to short to move the runners forward. Hannah Bowen, who was pinch running for Caggiano, then advanced to third on a fielder's choice play. Fleming, however, struck out the final batter of the inning to end the Golden Knights' scoring chances.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Vanessa Brown hit a two-out single to second, but was left stranded.

Ithaca gained momentum in the top of the 10th inning with a double play, as Brink lined out to Brown at third base, who then turned two to get the runner out at first base.
 
Laccona, Brown and Anderson all went 1-for-4 against Clarkson while Annie Cooney finished 1-for-3.
 
In the circle, Fleming picked up her 11^th win of the year with 14 strikeouts and just five hits in a full 10 innings of work.
 
Ithaca is back in action tomorrow against RPI at 10 a.m. The winner of that game will move on to play in Saturday's championship.