ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball team ran its record to 4-0 this season with a back-and-forth victory over Alfred State, 7-6, on Thursday afternoon at Freeman Field. There were four ties and three lead changes in the non-conference showdown.

In the bottom of the first inning, IC threatened to put a run on the board as graduate student Buzz Shirley ripped a one-out double to left field, but was left stranded at third after a groundout and strikeout.

Alfred State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second after a one-out triple to dead centerfield scored on a wild pitch.

The Bombers knotted the contest up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by first-year Louis Fabbo that plated senior Aaron Shoemaker. Shoemaker led off the inning with a walk and found his way over to third after a pair of wild pitches. IC pushed two runners into scoring position later in the frame, but a groundout kept the game tied at 1-1.

Alfred State jumped back up, 2-1, in the fourth inning on a throwing at the plate. The Pioneers led off the inning with a double and moved up on a base hit to right field to set up the go-ahead run.

Ithaca tied things back up, 2-2, in the bottom half of the fourth on a lead-off home run to right by senior Jack Lynch and then jumped ahead on an RBI single off the bat of senior Sam Kinum, which brought in first-year Kyle Gordon. Gordon followed Lynch with a ringing triple to right-center.

After a pitching change, IC extended its lead to 4-2 as Kinum advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an errant throw. A few pitches later, Fabbo sent a line drive back up the middle to push in senior Aaron Shoemaker.

Alfred State cut its deficit to 5-4 in the top of the seventh on three straight hits to start the inning. After a lead-off single, the Pioneers ripped back-to-back doubles with the second scoring two runs. The Pioneers then deadlocked the contest at 5-5 on a wild pitch.

The Bombers went back on top in the seventh, 6-5, on an RBI single through the right side by Kinum that brough home Lynch, but Alfred State fought back in the eight to tie the game again on a wild pitch as a lead-off single came around to score after a sac bunt and groundout.

IC jumped back on top in the bottom of the eighth on a solo opposite field homer over the scoreboard by senior Garrett Callaghan for the eventual game-winning run.

Sophomore Garrett Bell earned his first collegiate start and tossed 2.0 innings, allowing one run on one hit with a strikeout.

First-year Sean Kelly was the first arm out of the bullpen and struck out two batters in his lone inning of work. IC then went to first-year Nate Scott in the fourth inning and he allowed an unearned run on two hits with two strikeouts.

First-year Matteo Ragusa took the mound in the fifth inning and fanned one batter. Sophomore Tyler Edelman entered in the sixth and navigated through the Pioneers in just eight pitches. First-year Bo Nicholson and graduate student Charlie Hammel appeared in the seventh. Nicholson allowed three runs on three hits, while Hammel struck out two.

Hammel picked up his second win of the season in 2.0 innings of relief. First-year Dom Trippi picked up his first career save with three strikeouts in the ninth inning.

The Bombers are back in action this weekend with a four-game series against The University of Rochester on March 27-28. IC heads to U of R on Saturday and plays at Freeman Field on Sunday.