POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Ithaca softball team started Liberty League play on Sunday with a bang, sweeping Union College in a doubleheader matchup. The Bombers held the Garnet Chargers to just one run each game. Winning the first game 11-1 and second 5-1, Ithaca's regular season record improves to 15-5 and their conference record now stands at 2-0.
 
Ithaca 11, Union 1 (F-6)
 
Ithaca started off strong in the first inning with Sela Scheinman advancing to first with a walk and Jessie Lopez singling to the left side of the diamond. Scheinman was able to advance to home off an error, immediately getting a 1-0 lead for the Bombers. Union was unable to respond in the bottom of the first.
 
Ithaca continued to thrive at the plate with two doubles from Sydney Miranda and Kailen Winkelblech and two singles from Ava Rao and Lopez. Both Winkelblech and Rao collected RBIs, increasing the Bombers lead to 3-0. Anna Cornell shut down Union once again striking out three batters in the second and only allowing a single.
 
The third inning was quiet for both teams with neither being able to start any offensive rallies. A double from Scheinman in the top of the fourth would put the Bombers on the board again with a score of 4-0 to end the inning. Cornell had an identical inning as the second, striking out another three batters and letting up just one single.
 
The Bombers bats stayed hot with a two-run homer from Haley Petrucci to put them up 6-0. However, it was the bottom of the sixth when Ithaca's offense exploded. The rally started off with singles from Rao and Oliveira. Another single from Lopez would score Taylor Andrews, pinch runner for Rao. Hudson Hassler would follow suit with another single and it would be a single from Elise Waddington to bring Lopez and Hassler home. The Bombers were not finished just yet as Petrucci crushed another two-run home run to right field for a lead of 11-0.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Ainsley Rogers relieved Cornell to finish off the game. Union was finally able to get on the board with an RBI from Sobetzko but was unable to come back from that far behind.
 
Cornell was named the winning pitcher with 11 strikeouts, two hits, and no runs. This marks her seventh win of the season.
 
Ithaca 5, Union 1 (F)
 
It was a slow start to the game for both Ithaca and Union. However, it would be the Bombers who got on the board first in the third inning with an RBI double from Hudson Hassler. Union immediately responded in the bottom of the third with an RBI single to right field from E. Wintringe to tie up the game 1-1.
 
The Bombers regained the lead in the top of the fourth with an RBI double from Sydney Miranda. A one run-lead was not enough for the Bombers as they scored two more in the top of the fifth off a sacrifice bunt from Hassler and an RBI double from Haley Petrucci.
 
It would stay quiet on both sides of the diamond until the top of the seventh when Ithaca scored their final run of the game of an RBI double from Waddington.
 
Mady Rowell was named the winning pitcher striking out four, allowing two hits and no runs. This is her fourth win of the season.
 
The Bombers return to Kostrinsky field Tuesday April 9 for a non-conference matchup against Alfred University. Game times are slated for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.