ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball team displayed an offensive power surge on Thursday afternoon at Freeman Field against SUNY Oneonta, as the Bombers recorded 16 hits – six for extra bases – en route to a 12-6 victory. It was Ithaca's home opener in 2017 and the win lifts its record to 7-5, while Oneonta drops to 8-5.
Oneonta got on the board first with three runs on five hits in the top of the second inning. With one out, the Red Dragons recorded back-to-back singles and then moved the runners up on a sacrifice bunt. The next batter followed with a two-run single and then two more base hits brought in the third run of the frame.
Ithaca got a run back in the bottom half of the second on an infield single by junior Domenic Boresta with sophomore Andrew Bailey on third. Bailey reached on a walk and moved up on a base hit by sophomore Matt Carey.
The Bombers took the lead in the third inning with four runs on four hits. Oneonta retired the first two hitters of the inning, but a four-pitch walk to sophomore Sam Little extended Ithaca's at bat. Senior Ryan Henchey then stepped to the plate and drilled a two-run home run to left field to tie the game at 3-3. In inning continued, as Bailey and sophomore Adam Gallagher singled, and then Carey stroked a double over the centerfielder's head to bring in both runners.
In the fourth inning, Ithaca put up seven more runs on eight hits, including four extra base hits, to build a 12-3 lead. Senior Josh Savacool led off with a single and sophomore Webb Little followed with an infield hit. Another infield hit was credited to senior Trevor Thompson, and then S. Little drove in Savacool with a sacrifice fly. Now with two outs in the frame, Ithaca ripped four-straight extra base hits – doubles from Bailey and Carey, and triples by Gallagher and Boresta – which led the five runs. Savacool capped off the inning, as the Bombers batted around, with an RBI single to left field.
Oneonta answered with three runs, all with two outs, in the fifth to pull to within a 12-6 difference to account for the eventual final score.
Carey and Bailey each went 3-for-4 in the game. Carey also drove in three runs with two doubles, while Bailey scored three times and doubled. Savacool (2-for-4), Thompson (2-for-5), Gallagher (2-for-4) and Boresta (2-for-4) all notched multi-hit games on Thursday.
Junior Robby Buffis earned his second win of the season in five innings pitched. Buffis allowed six runs on 10 hits and struck out three batters. Freshman Tom Cosentino picked up his first career save in four innings of work with three strikeouts and allowed two hits.
The Bombers will travel down to Stevens Institute of Technology this weekend for a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday. The series was originally scheduled to be played in Ithaca, but moved due to inclement weather in the area. Saturday is a nine-inning contest at 6 p.m. and Sunday's doubleheader starts at 12 p.m.