ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball team picked up a pair of Empire 8 Conference victories over Houghton College on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at Freeman Field by scores of 5-1 and 8-7. Ithaca, which is now 18-12 overall and 9-3 in the Empire 8, mounted a six-run comeback in Game Two to secure the sweep.

GAME ONE: Ithaca 5, Houghton 1

Ithaca struck first in the opening with an RBI groundout from freshman Matt Carey that allowed junior Ryan Henchey to come home. Henchey led off the inning with a hit by pitch, stole second and moved up to third on another groundout.

Houghton knotted the game up at 1-1 in the fourth on a single to center field, but the Bombers answered with three runs in the fifth.

The rally began with an infield single from senior Zach Cole that ricocheted off the Houghton pitcher's leg. An errant throw on the play allowed sophomore Domenic Boresta to score from second base. Boresta reached on a single and stole second.

After a base hit by junior Josh Savacool, classmate Trevor Thompson was intentionally walked to load the bases. Freshman Sam Little followed with a sacrifice fly with Cole on third, and then Savacool scored on a throwing error to cap off the inning.

Ithaca tacked on one more run in the sixth on the third base hit of the game from Cole with Boresta on second.

Cole went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, while Boresta was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Savacool also collected two hits in three at bats.

Senior John Prendergast earned his 30th career victory in six solid innings of work. Prendergast allowed one run on six hits with six strikeouts and no walks.

Fellow senior Ryan Contegni tossed the seventh inning and struck out two batters.

GAME TWO: Ithaca 8, Houghton 7

The nightcap, which was a pitcher's duel through four innings, turned into an epic six-run comeback by the Bombers.

In the top of the fifth, Houghton was the first to crack the scoreboard with two unearned runs in the frame.

Houghton's first run scored after a base hit to right that turned into a pair of erratic throws by the Bombers defense. The Highlander batter who recorded the single moved around to third on the two errors and then scored on a sacrifice fly.

The Bombers cut their deficit in half on an RBI groundout by Henchey with Thompson on third in the sixth. Thompson led off the inning with a roped double over the centerfielder's head and moved up a base on another groundout.

In the top of the seventh, Houghton put up five runs on four hits to build a 7-1 edge. The Highlanders strung together four straight hits, including two doubles after an error kept the inning alive. A sacrifice fly capped off the five-run frame.

Ithaca got two runs back in the bottom half of the seventh on an RBI single from senior Cameron Oathout and a sac fly by Savacool. Freshman Webb Little and senior John Stanley scored the Bombers' runs.

The Bombers erupted for five runs in the eighth to complete the comeback. Henchey led things off with a hit by pitch and then Cole and W. Little followed with back-to-back singles to bring in McCormack, who entered as a pinch runner. An error of the bat of Stanley brought in Cole, and laser triple to center by Oathout tied the game. Oathout, who went 3-for-3 in the game, would score the game-winning run on a passed ball.

Freshman Zach Zottola picked up his first career win in 1.2 innings of hitless relief. Senior Benji Parkes recorded his first career save in a perfect ninth inning.

Sophomore Tyler Hill started the ballgame and went six innings. Hill gave up two unearned runs on five hits with three walks and one strikeout.

The Bombers and Houghton square off again tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at Freeman Field.