REDLANDS, Calif. – Head Coach George Valesente of the Ithaca College baseball team earned his 1,000th career victory as Ithaca's coach with a 2-0 win over Spalding in Redlands, Calif. on Saturday afternoon. Ithaca concludes its spring break trip with a 2-5 record.

Nearly three years to the day in which Valesente eclipsed 1,000 wins as a coach; Valesente reached that same milestone in a Bombers uniform today. He is in his 37th season at the helm of the Ithaca program and 43rd year overall as a collegiate coach.

Valesente entered this season as the winningest active coach in Division III with 1,090 victories which is seventh all-time at this level.

After a grueling week of high scoring and extra-inning games, the Bombers needed a shutdown performance from their pitching staff, and that's exactly what seniors Jimmy Wagner and Andrew Sanders delivered.

Wagner picked up his first win of the season in six innings pitched. He struck out seven hitters and allowed just five hits with two walks. Over the six-inning gem, only one runner for Spalding was able to reach third base.

Sanders was equally as impressive in a three-inning save. He no-hit the Golden Eagles over the final three frames and struck out one batter. Sanders entered the game in the seventh after Wagner gave up a hit and walk to start the at bat. Sanders stepped in and retired Spalding's next three batters.

After an error began things in the top of the eighth, Spalding sacrificed that runner to second on a bunt. Sanders followed up with a pick off at second to erase the runner in scoring position.

Valesente's 1,000th win was locked up in the ninth on a pair of fly outs and groundout.

The Bombers scored both of their runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from junior Zach Pidgeon that plated senior Christian Brown with two outs. Brown led off Ithaca's inning with an infield single and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Pidgeon made his way around the bases on a passed ball and two errors on Spalding to account for Ithaca's second run.

Brown was the only player in the game to post a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Sophomore Trevor Thompson doubled in a 1-for-4 day at the plate, while Pidgeon made the most of his one at bat (1-for-1, run scored and RBI). Five other Bombers picked up bat hits in the win.

Ithaca returns to action on March 23 at Rochester for a 1 p.m. start. The Bombers will then head to Kean for a 2 p.m. game on the 22nd, and host Cortland on the 24th for their home opener at 3 p.m.