ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball team dropped an 8-2 non-conference game to Keystone College on Wednesday afternoon in what was the first game played on Freeman Field this season. Ithaca is now 14-11 on the season.
Keystone took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a solo home run to straightaway centerfield.
The Giants added another run to their lead in the fourth inning on a bases loaded single to right to start a four-run rally. A two-out base hit to center brought two more home, and an error on a throw down to second, allowed a third run to cross the plate to make it 5-0.
Ithaca got on the board in the bottom of the fifth for a 5-1 difference as
Matt Curtis scored from third on a stolen base attempt by
Isaiah Smith at second. IC plated another run a few batters later as
Sheldon Jay Walker III sent a bloop single to right and
Zack Sperger came around to score.
Defensive struggles for the Bombers accounted for three more runs for Keystone in the seventh inning. Ithaca committed two errors in the frame, which led to two runs coming home, and a balk brought in another.
Ithaca loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth on a double from
Ethan Fantel and walks to
Camden Laney and
Lucas Orlovitz, but a strikeout ended the threat and kept the score at 8-2.
The Bombers only produced four hits on the day and were kept off balance with 13 strikeouts from the Keystone pitching staff.
Richard Zangara started for IC and went 3.0 innings in a loss. Five other hurlers made appearances.
Ithaca travels to St. Lawrence for a three-game series this weekend in Canton.
