Oneonta, N.Y. – The Ithaca College softball team split a doubleheader on the road against the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons on Saturday. Oneonta won the first game 4-2, but the Bombers bounced back to win the second game 6-1. Ithaca is now 11-3 on the season.
Game 1: Oneonta 4, Ithaca 2
Anna Cornell started strong for the Bombers, retiring the side in the first two innings and allowing only one hit in the third. However, the Bombers couldn't capitalize on their offensive opportunities, stranding
Kailen Winkelblech on third base with no outs in the third frame.
The Red Dragons scored first in the bottom of the fourth inning with two singles and an error, followed by a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. The Bombers ended the threat after giving up one more single.
In the fifth inning, the Bombers threatened again but had a runner caught stealing and another left stranded after a walk.
In the top of the sixth,
Cate Murray walked and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Another fielder's choice left runners at first and second, and a third fielder's choice put runners at the corners.
Anna Bello then hit a pinch-hit triple with two outs to tie the game at 2-2. The inning ended with a groundout.
Oneonta responded in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two unearned runs on a fielder's choice and a single to take a 4-2 lead. Ithaca stranded two runners to end the inning. The Bombers loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of an Oneonta error, but couldn't score, falling 4-2 in the first game.
Anna Cornell pitched six innings, allowing four runs, but only one earned. The senior managed six punchouts and now has 518 for her career, 58 away from the program record.
Game 2: Ithaca 6, Oneonta 1
In game two,
Cate Murray reached base and advanced to second on an error, then scored on a single by
Belle de Oliveira to make it 1-0. The Bombers loaded the bases when
Kailen Winkelblech was hit by a pitch and
Ava Rao walked, but all three runners were stranded.
Oneonta tied the game in the bottom of the first with two singles, a sacrifice bunt, and a sacrifice fly.
In the top of the fourth, the Bombers threatened with a single by Rao and a double by
Sydney Miranda, but both were stranded.
In the fifth, the Bombers loaded the bases with a walk by
Anna Bello, a single by Winkelblech, and a walk by Emerson Poulin. Rao and Miranda walked to give the Bombers a 3-1 lead, and
Jessie Lopez walked to make it 4-1. An error allowed Murray to reach first, completing a four-run inning and making it 5-1, in favor of the Bombers.
Ithaca added another run in the sixth. Bello doubled, Poulin singled to put runners at the corners, and
Ava Rao hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home the run on a sacrifice fly, making it 6-1.
Mady Rowell pitched six innings, giving up one earned run on five hits.
The Bombers will be in action again at 3 p.m. on Wednesday in a home doubleheader against SUNY Geneseo.
