ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College softball program officially clinched the No. 3 seed on Saturday in the upcoming 2024 Liberty League Championship tournament. The Bombers hosted RIT for a doubleheader during the final weekend of the regular season and Anna Cornell shined striking out 16 in a 2-0 win and in the nightcap they once again shutout the Tigers this time winning 4-0. At the conclusion of the doubleheader, the Bombers celebrated its three seniors Ainsley Rogers, Hudson Hassler and Belle de Oliveira in a Senior Day celebration.
 
Ithaca 2, RIT 0 (F)
Similar to several of her other Liberty League starts this season, Anna Cornell struck out the side against the RIT Tigers in order to kick things off in the pitching circle. Cornell continued her hot start, striking out two more in the top of the second frame. The Bombers got their first base runner in the bottom of the third when Belle de Oliveira slashed a single into the right field gap but was left stranded.
 
RIT led off the top of the fourth with an Elise Guth triple, which was followed up by Lillian Rienstra reaching on a fielder's choice, but once again Anna Cornell pitched her way out of the jam getting Bailey Kehl to pop out in foul territory and ended the inning striking out Maddy Cook on three consecutive pitches for her eighth punchout. She was in top form as she ended up striking out the side again, this time in the top of the sixth inning to push her total to 14 on the day.
 
The Bombers once again threatened to score with both Sela Scheinman and Jessie Lopez laying down perfectly placed bunts and Lopez ended up stealing second on the first pitch of an Elise Waddington at-bat. Waddington ended up driving in both Scheinman and Lopez ripping a double up the middle, putting Ithaca up 2-0.
 
Cornell gave up a lead-off single through the left side of the infield to Bailey Kelhl, who would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt from Maddy Cook in the top of the seventh frame. The junior hurler for Ithaca struck out Erin Ozminkowski and then retired Maria Minemier via the punchout looking to conclude the game and give Ithaca the 2-0 victory. With the win, Anna Cornell improved to 13-6 overall.
 
Ithaca 4, RIT 0 (F)
 
Sela Scheinman was able to show her prowess on the basepaths in the bottom of the first frame when she led-off with a walk, stole second and third. Elise Waddington followed it up with a fielder's choice, but it was ruled that Scheinman left earlier from her base in the sequence and the RIT pitcher Jessica Majot got out of the inning unscathed when Hailey Petrucci grounded out.
 
The Bombers were able to breakthrough for a pair of runs in the bottom half of the second frame. With one out, Hudson Hassler roped a triple into the left center field gap, and she would score when Kailen Winkelblech delivered an RBI single. IC would go on to make it 2-0 when Winkelblech was plated on an RBI single off the bat of Sela Scheinman.
 
Taylor Brunn got the start in the pitching circle for Ithaca and she was spinning the ball well and retired the RIT lineup in order via the punchout in the third as she had six strikeouts through the first three innings. Both teams worked scoreless fourth and fifth innings.
 
RIT would open the fifth inning with a double from Maria Minemier and single from Kristin Hino. Brunn would then get Marissa Giuntoli to strike out looking and would retire Emma Merkley the same way but swinging and IC would maintain its 2-0 lead when Brunn induced a fly out.
 
The Bombers would go on to score two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with Olivia Comolli coming up clutch with a two-RBI double that smacked off the outfield fence putting her team up 4-0.
 
Mady Rowell entered in relief in the top half of the sixth inning and she ended up recording the final six outs of the game to earn her first collegiate save.
 
Ithaca College finishes the 2024 regular season with a 25-12 overall record and have won four-straight as they head to the double-elimination Liberty League Championship tournament that will begin on Thursday, May 9.