ITHACA, N.Y. -- The second-seeded Ithaca Bombers (33-13) beat the fourth-seeded Alfred Saxons (37-8) 7-1 in Sunday’s final of the NCAA Division III Regional at Kostrinsky Field. With the win, the Bombers earn their ninth trip in 15 years to the NCAA Championship Finals.
The Bombers scored seven unearned runs and cruised to the win, wrapping up an undefeated run through the regional. Ithaca has made the most NCAA playoff appearances (23) of any school; Alfred was making the program's first trip.
A pair of Saxon errors in the first inning led to a 3-0 Ithaca lead. Junior Brittany Lillie doubled home first baseman Cait Ryan (who'd been hit by a pitch) and sent Kerry Barger (who'd reached on an error) to third. An infield error on a ground ball off the bat of center fielder Jennifer Biondi allowed both Lillie and Barger to score.
Ithaca broke the game open in the fourth, scoring four more runs. Shortstop Annemarie Forenza reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. An infield single by catcher Katherine Wilson put runners on first and second. On a ground ball hit by second baseman Kait Dolan the Saxons tried for a force out at third, but the errant throw allowed both runners to score and sent Dolan all the way to third. She scored on a ground out by Ryan and back-to-back doubles by Barger and outfielder Molly O'Donnell brought home Ithaca's final run.
Alfred scored its run in the sixth. Center fielder Shannon Mather led off with a single and moved to third on pitcher Nicole Hedrick's single to right center. Hedrick stole second and Mather scored on a Bomber throwing error. Another Ithaca error put runners on first and second, but Lillie struck out the final two hitters to end the threat.
Lillie struck out three of the seven batters she faced and threw two shutout innings in relief of winner Alyssa Brook. Brook, who improved to 15-7 overall and 6-0 in the postseason, allowed five hits and an unearned run in her five innings. She struck out seven Saxons.
Mather had two of Alfred's five hits.
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