AMSTERDAM, N.Y. - The No. 3 Ithaca College baseball team fell to No. 2 Union College, 18-9, in a Liberty League semifinal slugfest at Shuttleworth Park. With the loss, Ithaca finished the season with a 16-12-1 record. Union improves to 12-7 on the year and will take on Rochester in the Liberty League final on Saturday.
 
Ithaca struggled right out of the gate after surrendering five runs in the bottom of the first frame.
 
Buzz Shirley had a tough outing, as he allowed seven runs on five hits through 2.2 innings in the circle. The southpaw entered the contest with a 3.65 ERA. IC struggled on the mound as the Bombers issued 18 runs on 15 hits and 12 walks.
 
Ithaca managed to get on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning thanks to a Louis Fabbo two-run homerun that cut the deficit to four runs at 6-2. One inning later, Matt Fabian scorched a solo homer to right field and then two more Bombers would score in the fourth to make it an 8-5 ball game.
 
Union put up four more runs in the home half of the fourth and eventually five more in the eighth inning to take a commanding 18-9 lead, which was the final score of the contest.
 
Shirley went 2-for-4 with a solo homerun while helping power Ithaca's offense Wednesday. Ethan McDonough was dangerous at the plate for the Bombers as well, going 2-for-3 with an RBI triple and three runs scored.
 
It was the first all-time appearance in the Liberty League Tournament for the Bombers after leaving the Empire 8 two years ago.