ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College softball program played its final home regular season doubleheader of the season on Friday afternoon and picked up a pair of Liberty League wins over RIT on Kostrinksy Field. The Bombers used early offense and a career-high in strikeouts by junior pitcher Riley Piromalli to earn the 4-2 victory and won 8-0 in five innings to complete the sweep.

ITHACA 4, RIT 2 (F)
Riley Piromalli started off the top of the first inning strong, striking out all three RIT batters she faced. The Bombers kicked off the bottom of the inning with an RBI triple from Julia Loffredo that was rocketed into right center field. Loffredo advanced to home on the throw from the outfield putting the Bombers up 2-0. Sela Scheinman continued the rally with a pop up that found the gap in between second base and center field. Scheinman was left on base as the inning ended with Daniella Mulvey striking out.

The Bombers had a rocky start to the second inning with Piromalli walking the leadoff batter and then an error from second baseman Allison Dell'Orto, allowing runners on first and second. Ithaca took back control getting the next three batters out from a failed bunt attempt, another strikeout from Piromalli, and a fly ball hit into shallow left field that was caught by Kailey Collins.

The third inning started with another stellar strikeout from Riley Piromalli. The Tigers gained momentum with a single from Hannah Trumble hit into shallow right field and an unsuccessful double play attempt which resulted in one out and a runner still on second. Their offense continued to pick up with a line drive hit to center field from Maddy Cook and an RBI single hit up the middle by Alexis Smith to put RIT on the board. Piromalli produced a much-needed strikeout to end the inning.

The Tigers trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the inning. Ithaca quickly answered with a double up the left field line hit by Emma Kindblom and Allison Dell'Orto beating out the throw from the Tigers shortstop to get a single. The RIT defense prevailed as Scheinman hit a line drive right to the third baseman's glove who successfully threw to first base to end the inning as they doubled up the runner on first. Piromalli continued to showcase her talent as she struck out the leadoff batter of the fourth inning. She unluckily lost control and hit Chloe McManus in the foot, allowing her to advance to second. Piromalli struck out the next batter. However, she gave up an RBI double, but Belle de Oliveira threw a rocket from deep right field to get the out at third and end the inning.

With the score tied at two runs apiece, the Bombers had a quick inning as RIT caught pop fly's from all three batters: Kailey Collins, Daniella Mulvey, and Tava Kasper.

The Bombers dominated the top of the fifth frame with another two strikeouts from Piromalli and a ground ball to Kasper at shortstop who made a clean throw to first for the out. It was another quick inning for Ithaca as only four batters stepped into the batter's box and no runs were scored. Ithaca's defense continued to prevail as Piromalli struck out all three batters she faced. Allison Dell'Orto started off the bottom of the sixth with a line drive single to left field. Loffredo then hit a fly ball to left center field for a double. With runners on second and third, Scheinman hit a deep fly ball to left field for a 2 RBI sacrifice fly.

IC led 4-2 going into the top of the seventh. Piromalli closed out the seventh inning strong and the Bombers won the first game of their double header 4-2. The senior pitcher improved to 7-8 on the season and tallied career-high 14 strikeouts in the victory.

Ithaca 8, RIT 0 (F-5)
First year Anna Cornell got the ball for game number two and she hurled a complete game shutout limiting the Tigers to just two hits. She mixed her pitches well inducing several ground ball outs, while also striking out three to improve her record to 10-4. 

The Bombers quickly made it 2-0 when Julia Loffredo sent a two-run homer over the right center field fence. The offense reloaded and with Sela Scheinman in scoring positon Yalina Ellis stepped to the dish and delivered an RBI double that made it 3-0 in the bottom of the first.
 
Loffredo and Scheinman led off the bottom of the third with back-to-back singles with Loffredo advancing to third with keen base running. The Tigers got a quick two outs after junior outfielder Kailey Collins lined out to the pitcher and Scheinman was doubled up at first. Yalina Ellis came up to the plate and delievered once again with her second RBI double extending the Bombers lead to 4-0. IC then extended its lead in the bottom of the fourth with Emma Kindblom plating a run on a sacrifice fly.

The Tigers loaded the bases with two outs on a single, a walk and an error, but Cornell forced her eighth groundout of the game to get out of the fifth inning jam.

Ellis earned her third RBI of the game when she made it 6-0 on a sacrifice fly. Tava Kasper than launched her third home run of the season, all of which of come at home making it 7-0. Daniella Mulvey followed it up with a triple down the right field line and then scored on a passed ball in the next at-bat to bring the game to a close.

Ithaca College (19-13, 11-1 Liberty League) will close out the regular season on Saturday when they travel to Rochester, N.Y. against the current top team in the Liberty League in the University of Rochester. With a sweep, the Bombers would clinch the No. 1 seed and hosting rights of the upcoming Liberty League Championships. Saturday's doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m.