ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College softball team had a quick turnaround hosting Skidmore College for a Liberty League doubleheader on Sunday. The Bombers put together a 6-0 shutout win and would see their comeback fall just short as they dropped the second game by a 7-6 score. With the split, Ithaca improves to 14-7 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
ITHACA 6, SKIDMORE 0 (F)
Madison Schoenenberger hit a double to center field and was able to take third after a overthrow on the play.
Sydney Miranda produced an RBI sacrifice fly to send
Schoenenberger home to put the Bombers on the board early in the bottom of the first.
In the bottom of the fourth inning the Bombers extended their lead to 3-0 with
Cate Murray hitting a single and
Ava Rao followed that up with an RBI double and then
Elise Waddington hit a RBI single to bring home Rao.
The action continued in the bottom of the fifth frame where Schoenenberger and
Sydney Miranda hit back-to-back solo home runs giving the Bombers a 5-0 lead. Winkelblech then hit a single, and Rao sent her to third with a double to centerfield. Waddington then had an RBI bringing Winkelblech home on a fielder's choice.
Jessie Lopez hit a single in the dirt and Shoenenberger followed that up with one of her own to center field. Miranda loaded the bases by adding her own single, but the Bombers were not able to capitalize to bring anyone home in the sixth inning.
The Bombers ended up taking the first game of the doubleheader with impressive pitching from
Mady Rowell and
Madison Collins sealing a 6-0 victory over the Thoroughbreds as the pair limited the visitors to just three hits, while striking out five.
Madison Schoenenberger led all batters with three hits, one being a homerun.
Sydney Miranda and
Elise Waddington both totaled two RBI each.
SKIDMORE 7, ITHACA 6 (F)
The Thoroughbreds got on the board first to start game two of the doubleheader. Sophia Finch had an RBI single to bring home Lulu Mickle who was on second base after hitting a double making the score 1-0 in favor of Skidmore to close out the first inning.
In the top of the second Skidmore loaded the bases as Sam Waters hit a RBI double bringing in Madison Bonham and Rachel Monser to extend the lead to 3-0. Natalie Mayne was then walked with the bases loaded and it brought Elle Harrison home. Finch then hit a RBI single driving in Waters and Mickle. The Thoroughbreds brought in five runs in the stanza, putting them up 6-0 to close out the top half of the second.
Skidmore added to its lead with an RBI from Natalie Mayne bringing home Elle Harrison who was walked earlier in the inning bringing the score to 7-0.
Jessie Lopez hit a single for the Bombers and then
Emersen Poulin pinch-hit for
Anna Bello. Bello reentered for her and advanced to second after
Madison Schoenenberger single, however; Lopez was thrown out at third. Miranda then followed that up with a single sending Bello home. Winkelblech hit a double to drive home Schoenenberger to put the Bombers on the board by five with the score being 7-2 to cap off the fifth inning.
The momentum stayed in favor of the Bombers shortening the deficit to one with the score being 7-6 with the Thoroughbreds on top. It began with Rao being walked,
Isabella Maynard came in to pinch run for her and
Haley Petrucci hit a line drive single to center and that advanced Maynard to second. Lopez then singled and it drove Maynard home. Bello came up to bat and flew out but it allowed Petrucci to advance to home and left Lopez at third. Lopez then stole home on a wild pitch and capping it off,
Madison Schoenenberger hit her second home run of the day to close out the inning.
Skidmore was able to get three quick outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to seal their 7-6 victory over the Bombers. Shayne Cleeve came into the circle and pitched the final inning and a third to earn the save.
Ithaca will continue Liberty League play on Friday, April 17 with a road doubleheader at St. Lawrence as their midweek matchup with SUNY Oneonta was canceled. Game times against the Saints are slated for 3 and 5 p.m.
