ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball team will host next weekend's Liberty League Championship after defeating Union College, 19-3, in the final game of the crossover series on Sunday at Freeman Field. Ithaca, which is now 27-12 on the season, is the highest remaining seed (No. 1 in the West) remaining in the Liberty League, and with that is granted hosting rights.

The Bombers came out swinging in the bottom of the first inning as Louis Fabbo laced a one-out double to left-center and then Buzz Shirley followed with an RBI single to right to give IC a 1-0 lead. Nicholas Cutaia then stepped to the plate and ripped an RBI double down the left field line to score Shirley all the way from first base, extending IC's lead to 2-0.

Union got on the board in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly to left field after a single and walk moved up on a sac bunt.

IC went back up by two runs, 3-1, in the bottom of the third as Shirley drove in Nauta on a base hit to right, which set up runners on the corners with no outs. Cutaia then drove in Fabbo with a hard-hit ball to short that was booted away.

Union went to the bullpen with a pair of runners in scoring position and IC immediately jumped on the new pitcher as Connor Pedersen stroked a two-run double down the left field line to score Shirley and Cutaia and give IC a 6-1 edge.

The lead grew to 7-1 in the third inning as Matt Fabian lifted a sac fly to center and Cutaia came trotting home. IC continued to pour it on from there as Ethan Rothstein tripled to left-center and Merod scored all the way from first, and then Riley Brawdy brought in Rothstein on a sac fly to cap off the seven-run frame.

Union made the score 9-2 in the fourth with a one-out home run to left field, but the Bombers answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it an 11-2 ballgame.

Cutaia drove in Fabbo with a double to right-center and later scored on a fly out by Pedersen. On the play, Union's right fielder made a sliding catch and then lost the ball on the transfer, allowing Cutaia to score.

The Dutchmen were able to score another run in the sixth on an infield error and later loaded the bases, but Colin Leyner limited the damage with a strikeout to end the inning and send the Bombers to the bottom of the sixth with an 11-3 lead.

Leyner finished his outing with five strikeouts and three earned run on three hits over 6.0 innings pitched. 

IC put the game away in the bottom of the sixth with seven runs on five hits to give the Bombers an 18-3 lead. The Bombers added another run, for the eventual final score of 19-3, in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Rothstein.

Cutaia, Fabian and Shirley all drove in three runs as the Bombers recorded 15 hits in the win. Brett Budzak, Ethan Buckley and Garrett Bell each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.

More information will be provided regarding the upcoming tournament later in the week.