By: Jayden McClellan '26, athletics communications student assistant
Baseball Eyes Fourth Straight Liberty League Title at Home This Weekend
ITHACA, N.Y. The Ithaca College baseball team is looking to claim its fourth Liberty League title this weekend as the Bombers host the four-team, double-elimination tournament at Freeman Field beginning at 12 p.m. on Thursday.
About the Liberty League Championship
Ithaca advanced to the Liberty League Tournament with a sweep Vassar in the Crossover Series last weekend, 10-9 and 9-1. RPI took the first two games from RIT, while Skidmore swept Rochester and Clarkson took down Union in three games to advance to the tournament.
The Bombers have won the past three championships and have gone 9-0 in tournament games. Ithaca last hosted the tournament in 2022, while Skidmore held the tournament in 2023, and last year's championship was at RPI.
Ithaca faced all three teams during the regular season and went 6-1.
Tournament Schedule
Thursday, May 8
Game 1: No 1. Ithaca (24-13) Vs. No 4. RPI (25-13) -12 p.m. |
LIVE STATS |
VIDEO
Game 2: No 2. Skidmore (20-15-2) Vs. No 3. Clarkson (18-13) - 3:30 p.m. |
LIVE STATS |
VIDEO
Friday, May 9
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 – 10 a.m. |
LIVE STATS |
VIDEO
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 – 1 p.m. |
LIVE STATS |
VIDEO
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3 -Â 4 p.m. |
LIVE STATS |
VIDEO
Saturday, May 10
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 -Â 12 p.m. |
LIVE STATS |
VIDEO
Game 7: Same Teams (if necessary) |
LIVE STATS |
VIDEO
Scouting the Ithaca College Bombers
The Bombers are coming off a sweep against Vassar where they scored 19 runs in 19 innings and have an overall record of 24-13. IC ranks fourth in average (.304), third in runs (309), third in hits (391), and first in doubles (76) and home runs (39). On the mound eighth in ERA (5.51), third in innings (316.2), third in walks (184), third in strikeouts (274) and first in hit by pitches (80).
Ethan Fantel leads the IC offense in average (.390), OPS (1.153), while
Collin Feeney leads in hits (45), runs (46) and stolen bases (30).
Andrew McDermott leads in doubles (11) and walks (34) and shares the lead with
Ethan McDonough in home runs with six.
Riley Brawdy is leading the team in triples (5) and RBI (30).
On the mound,
Jack Picozzi is the Bombers No. 1 starter with a 2-2 record, 4.32 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 50 innings.
Ethan Murley (3.03 ERA, 2-0, 33 K, 38.2 IP) and
Reed Bailey (4.30 ERA, 0-1, 15 K, 23 IP) are probable starters in the tournament.
The Bombers will look to
Jack Colyer ( 4.59 ERA, 14 APP, 33.1 IP, 28 K),
Colin Leyner, (4.53 ERA, 12 APP, 53.2 IP, 33 K),
Sean Kelly (3.37 ERA, 18 APP, 3 SV, 26.2 IP, 22 K),
Danny Drotos (6.58 ERA, 10 APP, 26 IP, 23 K) and
Dan Kellachan (15 APP, 17.1 IP) out of the bullpen this weekend.
Scouting the RPI Engineers
RPI is 25-13 on the year but have only played 15 games on the road. RPI is hitting .315 as a team with 348 runs scored, 416 hits, 33 home runs, and 206 walks. The pitching staff has a 5.56 ERA, 266 strikeouts and 328.2 innings pitched.
Ian Oehlschlaeger leads the team with a .451 average, 1.321 OPS, 60 hits, and eight home runs and 11 doubles, while Ayush Krishnappa comes in with a .441 average, 1.233 OPS, seven home runs, 53 RBI and 49 hits. Micheal Lebenson is hitting .383 with a 1.037 OPS, 46 hits and 14 doubles.
Liam Riordan and Rylan Wade are the top two starters for the Engineers. Riordan is 5-2 with a 4.00 ERA in 54 innings and 43 strikeouts, while Wade is 6-0 with a 4.17 ERA in 54 innings and 62 strikeouts. Mike Nelson is the third starter that could throw a game if needed and he has a 4.46 ERA in 40.1 innings with 24 strikeouts.
The Engineers will most likely turn to Zach Zajac out of the bullpen as he sports a 4.88 ERA in 17 appearances, 24 innings and 19 strikeouts. They could also turn to Andrew Gaughan (6.23 ERA, 14 APP, 34 IP, 27 SO).
Scouting the Clarkson Golden Knights
Clarkson is 18-13 on the season 10-8 in conference play. Clarkson is hitting .290 as a team with 223 runs, 309 hits and 16 home runs. On the pitching side, they have a team ERA of 5.56 with 241 strikeouts in 267.2 innings.
Cam Jerrett leads the team in average at .388 with 45 hits, nine doubles, two home runs and 29 RBI. While Beau Vardion sports a .383 average with 36 hits, 12 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 29 RBI, while Joe Figliolino is hitting .330 with 38 hits, nine doubles, two triples, five home runs and 30 RBI.
On the pitching side, Clarkson's probable starters are Cole Riskin (4.91 ERA, 47.2 IP, 1-1, 52 K), Jacob Shirley (5.55 ERA, 35.2 IP, 1-1, 23 K), and Nicholas Hofacker (6.11 ERA, 35.1IP, 2-2, 27 K).
Out of the bullpen, the Golden Knights have Ryan Petrie (1.80 ERA, 8 APP, 15 IP, 13 K), Nathan Hartley (3.77 ERA, 28.2 IP, 13 APP, 3 SV, 34 K) and Jason McGee (4.78 ERA, 11 APP, 26.1 ERA, 20 K).
Scouting the Skidmore College Thoroughbreds
Skidmore is 20-15-2 with a 12-6 conference record. They have a .323 average, 328 runs, 413 hits, and 35 home runs. On the mound, the Thoroughbreds have a team ERA of 6.78 with 278 strikeouts in 302.2 innings.
For Skidmore, Sam Kornet leads the team with a .345 average with 49 hits, 11 doubles, 12 home runs, and 44 RBI, while Zachery Leiderman is hitting .341 with 45 hits, 11 doubles, four home runs and 30 RBI.
On the mound, Chase Siegal (4.14 ERA, 8-1, 58.2 IP, 54 K) and Quinn Hocom (4.69 ERA, 4-0, 48 IP, 64 K) will be the perspective starters for Skidmore.
Out of the pen, the Thoroughbreds have Charles Modlin (3.10 ERA, 12 APP, 2 SV, 12 K) and Nick Palovich (6.75 ERA, 7 APP, 14.2 IP, 18 K).
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