WASHINGTON, Pa. – The nationally ranked No. 25 Ithaca College baseball team started off their 2024 season with two games against the University of Mount Union and Case Western Reserve University on Sunday at Washington & Jefferson College. Ithaca dropped both games on the day, 11-7, to Mount Union and 9-8 to Case Western.
MOUNT UNION 11, ITHACA 7
The Purple Raiders wasted no time getting on the board, putting up three runs in the first inning as a result of three walks followed by a bases clearing triple. Colin Leyner settled in following the tough start, racking up two strikeouts in the inning to get out of trouble.
Leyner continued to hold Mount Union, as their bats were stifled up until a 5th inning run as a result of back-to-back base hits. IC finally broke into the run column in the same inning, scoring three runs coming from a monstrous blast off the bat of Louis Fabbo for the Bombers first home run of the season.
Mount Union came right back in the sixth inning, putting up another two runs through a rally filled inning. However, IC was able to hold the score to 5-3 after an amazing throw from right fielder Matt Fabian to gun down a runner attempting to score.
The Bombers answered with a rally of their own, scoring on an RBI single off the bat of Ethan Rothstein. IC also capitalized on an errant pick-off attempt with Riley Brawdy hustling around the bases to score, putting the Bombers within one run.
The seventh inning proved to be a turning point for the Purple Raiders as they scored two runs coming off of their consistent plate discipline. Their defense also shined as they saved a run robbing Matt Fabian of extra bases with an incredible leaping grab over the center field wall. Ethan Rothstein continued the Bombers spectacular defense with a diving play at third base to stop the bleeding to end the inning.
Mount Union continued applying pressure in the eighth inning as the Bombers defense began to falter with two errors leading to two runs coming across. The Purple Raiders' big inning placed them at an 11-5 advantage over the Bombers. IC fought back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs of their own off a sacrifice fly from Rothstein as well as pinch runner Ethan McDonough scoring on a passed ball.
The score remained the same as the Purple Raiders came away with the 11-7 win.
Dan Kellachan, Dan Allard and Ben Landis all saw action out of the bullpen in the loss.
CASE WESTERN 9, ITHACA 8
Ithaca College lost 9-8 in a hard-fought battle against Case Western Reserve. IC's early season rust showed as their defense defined this game with the team compiling eight errors while also leaving nine men stranded on base.
The Bombers started out hot in the first inning with Fabbo getting things started with a double, one of his three extra base hits on the day, setting up Ryan Laubscher to drive him in with an RBI single.
The IC defensive woes began in the second inning with two errors in the inning leading to the Spartans first run of the game. Ithaca responded with a run of their own as Louis Fabbo scored on a passed ball. Following this, another IC error, and a passed ball of their own evened up the score for Case Western Reserve at 2-2.
Jack Colyer's day on the mound was finished after 4.1 innings pitched giving up three unearned runs accompanied by five strikeouts.
The Bombers took the lead back in the fifth inning with an RBI single from Ethan McDonough skipping through the right side of the infield. The Spartans answered back by scoring on yet another error from the Ithaca defense.
The Bombers bats sparked a rally in the seventh inning behind another RBI single from Laubscher followed by Matt Curtis driving in two of his own putting IC up 6-3. The Case Western Spartans continued to answer back as they scored on back-to-back singles to come within one run of the Bombers.
The drama ensued in the eighth inning as IC loaded the bases and scored on a hit by pitch to Colin Shashaty as well as a walk to Curtis to strengthen their lead. However, the Bombers failed to seize the opportunity as they stranded the bases loaded due to Matt Fabian being caught at the plate attempting to steal home immediately followed by a pick-off of Curtis at first base.
The Spartans rode the momentum into the bottom half of the inning as another IC error plus two hit by pitches brought the bases loaded for Case Western Reserve. With men on all bases, the Spartans recorded a single in addition to another error and hit by pitch to place them within one run with still nobody out. A Spartan sacrifice fly gave them the lead heading into the ninth inning as IC turned an inning ending double play to finally escape the jam.
The Bombers' 14 hits on the day weren't enough as they fell in their second game of the day to start their 2024 season 0-2. IC will look to improve upon their 13 total errors on the day as they host the United States Merchant Marine Academy for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 2nd.
