ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball program was forced to wait 377 days between games after the cancelation of the 2020 season before returning to action on Saturday evening at Elmira College. The Bombers opened 2021 with a thrilling, 8-7, come-from-behind victory at Dunn Field over Elmira for the team's first win since February 23, 2020.

IC got off to a sluggish start, falling behind Elmira, 5-1, after three innings and 7-2 heading to the seventh. Four of those runs scored by the Soaring Eagles came unearned, including all three allowed in the first inning. From there, the Bombers scored three runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth to complete the comeback win.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Bombers strung together three runs on two outs. Graduate student Buzz Shirley kept the inning alive with a walk and then freshman Alex Barker-Hook, senior Jack Lynch and freshman Kyle Gordon followed with singles. The base hit from Barker-Hook set runners up on the corners for an RBI single by Lynch. After a stolen base by Lynch, Gordon cleared the bases to pull IC to within a 7-5 score.

The next inning, sophomore Gil Merod led off with a walk and was replaced by Ethan McDonough as a pinch runner. McDonough would come around to score on a single and error by freshman Louis Fabbo to bring IC to within a run. After an out was recorded, senior Garrett Callaghan drove in Fabbo with a base hit up the middle to knot the contest up at 7-7 and sophomore Mike Nauta gave IC the lead, and eventual game-winning RBI, with a bunt single two batters later to bring in Callaghan.
 
Callaghan went 3-for-5 in the game with a double, while junior Matt Smith was 3-for-4. Lynch, and Gordon each had two hits apiece as the Bombers racked up 14 hits on the evening.
 
Graduate student Charlie Hammel earned the win in four innings of relief. Hammel struck out five batters, including three over the final two innings. Hammel surrendered just two hits and two earned runs in the outing.
 
Sophomore Matt Chase earned the start and fanned seven batters in five innings of work. Chase allowed five runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks.
 
Ithaca and Elmira square off tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at Freeman Field. Tomorrow's twin bill will mark the Bombers' first home contests since May 9, 2019.