IMMACULATA, Pa. – The nationally ranked No. 19 Ithaca College baseball pounded out 17 hits, including three home runs, to open the 2023 season with a 16-8 victory at Immaculata University on Friday, February 24.

The Bomber got off to the best start imaginable, as IC scored seven runs on eight hits in the top of the first inning. Riley Brawdy led off with a solo home run to give the Bombers a 1-0 lead, and then IC produced five straight singles from Connor Pedersen, Garrett Callaghan, Nicholas Cutaia, Matt Fabian and Lous Fabbo to grow the difference to 4-0.

An error led to the fifth run of the inning and then Ethan Rothstein drove in a pair with a double to cap off the frame.

Immaculata plated two runs in the bottom of the first off Colin Leyner to make it a 7-2 game, but the Bombers scored four more runs in the second and two in the third to push their lead out to 13-2.

In the second inning, Pedersen led off with a solo homer and then Callaghan followed with a double. After a groundout and walk, Fabbo drove in two runs with a double and Merod stroke an RBI single.

Pedersen reached on an error to start the third inning and then Callaghan belted a two-run homer.

The Mighty Macs scored twice in the fifth and once more in the sixth.

Ithaca would then score another run in the seventh and two in the eighth for a 16-5 difference. An unearned run scored in the seventh, and then a sac fly from Rothstein followed by a single from Collin Feeney accounted for third run.

Immaculata plated three runs in the bottom of the eighth to account for the 16-8 final.

Callaghan and Fabbo each collected three hits, while Pedersen and Rothstein each had two.

Leyner tossed 3.0 innings and struck out five batters, while Bo Nicholson earned his first collegiate win in 3.0 innings of relief. Dan Kellachan tossed two innings and Sean Kelly wrapped up the game with a scoreless ninth.

The Bombers will play a doubleheader against No. 15/11 Arcadia on Sunday. Game One will begin at 11 a.m.