BUTLER, Pa. – The Ithaca College baseball program traveled down to Allegheny College on Sunday for a neutral site doubleheader at Pullman Park in Butler, Pa. and Ithaca was swept on the day by scores of 2-1 and 11-8. The Bombers are now 1-6 on the season.

GAME ONE: Allegheny 2, Ithaca 1

The Bombers received a quality start on the mound from senior Buzz Shirley, who went seven innings with seven strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs on five hits, but took the loss. Shirley surrendered both runs in the fourth inning and that was too much for the IC offense to overcome as Shirley took his second loss of the season.

IC was unable to figure out Allegheny hurler Conor Deasy, who scattered three hits over seven innings of work and allowed just one run to six strikeouts.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Gators put up four hits, which led to both runs being scored. A one-out single started the rally and then a double brought home the first run of the game. A single ensued to push home the second and final run of the contest for Allegheny. After the second out, an infield single put two runners on, but a fly out ended the frame.

Ithaca cut its deficit in half in the top of the seventh inning on a double to right-center from senior Timmy MacDonald to drive in sophomore Matt Smith, who reached on a hit by pitch and stole second to move into scoring position.

The Bombers had an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the ninth as Shirley led off with a hit by pitch and moved over to third after a sacrifice bunt and groundout, but another groundout back to the pitcher ended the contest.

Shirley went 1-for-3, as did Smith and MacDonald was 1-for-1 with a walk.

GAME TWO: Allegheny 11, Ithaca 8

In the night cap, Ithaca got on the board in the top of the first with a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead. Junior Brendan Ryan led off the game with a single and moved up on a wild pitch. Junior Garrett Callaghan then drove in Ryan with a base hit and later crossed home on a base hit up the middle from junior Jack Lynch.

Allegheny got on the board in the bottom of the second on an RBI double and then took the lead in the bottom of the third, 5-2, with four more runs. In that inning, the Gators produced five hits, which drove in three runs, and the fourth scored on an error.

IC pulled to within a 5-3 score in the fourth on an RBI double from junior Alex Babcock, which plated Smith, who led off with a bunt single.

A sacrifice fly from Allegheny in the fifth reestablished a three-run lead for the Gators, 6-3, but the Bombers knotted things up in the top of the sixth on a three-run triple off the bat of Ryan.

Smith led off with a hit by pitch and then freshman Gil Merod and Babcock followed with base hits to load the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, Ryan stepped to the plate and deliver a triple down the right field line.

In the top of the seventh, Ithaca regained control, 7-6, as Lynch stroked a one-out triple to left and then scored on a base hit from Smith.

Allegheny tied things up in the bottom half of the seventh, but the Bombers once again went ahead, 8-7, in the eighth inning on a two-out RBI single from Shirley to bring in Callaghan. Callaghan reached on a two-out single to left and scampered over to third on a pair of wild pitches.

The Gators put the game away in the bottom half of the eight with a lead off solo home run and a two-run shot later in the at bat.

Shirley and Callaghan each went 3-for-5 in the loss, while Ryan, Lynch, Smith and Babcock all collected two hits, as the Bombers finished Game Two with 16 hits.

Senior Tom Cosentino earned the start but did not factor into the decision as he went 5.2 innings and allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts. Freshman Matt Chase finished off the sixth inning as he gave up a pair of runs (one earned) with a walk.

Freshman Garrett Bell took the loss in two innings of relief. Bell struck out four batters but surrendered three runs on four hits.

The Bombers will open up Liberty League play with a three-game series at Bard College on March 21-22 in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y.