ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – The Ithaca College baseball team attempted to make an epic comeback against St. Mary's College (Md.) on Sunday afternoon, but fell short in an 18-16 decision. Ithaca trailed, 16-3, after three innings of play and fought all the way back to within two runs before the game came to a conclusion. Ithaca is now 1-4 on the season and will head to California for its Spring Break trip from March 8-14.

The Bombers scored the first run of the contest on an RBI single from senior Buzz Shirley, which brought home junior Garrett Callaghan, who reached on a one-out double.

Ithaca's lead was short-lived, however, as St. Mary's erupted for nine runs in the bottom half of the first inning on eight hits. The Seahawks belted three home runs in the frame, including a pair of three-run shots to establish a 9-1 lead.

IC managed to get two runs back in the top half of the second on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of freshman Mike Nauta and a run-scoring single to center from Callaghan. Sophomore Matt Smith scored on the Nauta RBI after he doubled and stole a base, while Nauta came around to score on the Callaghan single.

Once again, St. Mary's put up three runs in its next at bat to take a 12-3 advantage. After two outs were recorded, the Seahawks strung together three straight hits to push all three runs across the plate.

The Seahawks tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the third on four hits. IC once again recorded two outs before St. Mary's put together a rally. This time, four hits and an error led to four more runs on the board, which made the score 16-3.

In the top of the fourth, Ithaca hung three runs on three hits as Callaghan drove in another on a single and Shirley brought in two more on a double. Nauta once again scooted home on the Callaghan base hit, while Callaghan and senior Brendan Ryan came home on the Shirley double.

The Bombers then plated six runs in the fifth inning to pull to within a 16-12 score. Nauta drove in the first run on a bases loaded walk to push in junior Jack Lynch, and then Ryan drove in two more with a double as Smith and freshman Tyler Edelman scored. Callaghan then stepped to the plate and blasted a three-run home run to center with Ryan and Nauta on base.

IC would get to within a 16-13 count in the eighth on an RBI base hit from freshman Alex Shoemaker, which drove home Lynch, but a two-run homer from St. Mary's in the bottom of the eighth gave the Seahawks a five-run cushion, 18-13, heading to the ninth.

The Bombers did not go down without a fight, however, as they plate three more runs before the game wrapped up. Shirley picked up another RBI on a single to score Ryan and then Smith beat out an infield base hit to allow Callaghan to score. The final run crossed the plate, Shirley, on a wild pitch.

Callaghan went 5-for-6 with five RBI and four runs scored, while Shirley was 4-for-6 with four RBI. Ryan was 2-for-4 with three runs, two RBI and two walks, while Smith and Lynch each had two hits.

Senior Charlie Hammel took the loss for the Bombers, while four freshman – Maxx Kies, Carter Kowalczyk, Luke Schmaedeke and Garrett Bell – all made appearances.

Ithaca will play No. 1 Chapman in its first game in California on March 8.