Ithaca Erupts for 13 Runs in Defeat of Virginia Wesleyan

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NORFOLK, Va. – The Ithaca College baseball program wrapped up is season-opening trip to Virginia on Sunday with a 13-6 victory over host Virginia Wesleyan University at Kenneth R. Perry Field. With the win, Ithaca improves to 2-1 early on the in the campaign as the Bombers pounded out 15 hits in the contest.

IC jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI double off the bat of junior Sam Little to bring in senior Domenic Boresta. Ithaca tacked on another run in the third on a run-scoring single from junior Adam Gallagher to plate classmate Andrew Bailey from second.

The Bombers extended their lead to 7-0 after a five-run fourth inning on five hits. Junior Jake Generali led off the rally with a double to the gap and later scored on a base hit by junior Webb Little. Freshman Garrett Callaghan gave IC a 4-0 cushion on his first collegiate hit and RBI with a single up the middle to score junior Cam Fuoti with two outs. W. Little then scampered home on a passed ball to make the score 5-0, and Gallagher capped off the frame with a two-run single to push in S. Little and Callaghan.

Virginia Wesleyan answered in the bottom half of the fourth inning with a three-run home run to cut its deficit to 7-3.

In the sixth inning, W. Little led off with a double and moved up to third on a wild pitch. Callaghan notched another RBI in the ensuing at bat with a double down the line, and later came around to score on a base hit by Gallagher.

The Marlins got another run back in the bottom of the sixth, but Ithaca responded with three more in the top half of the seventh to increase its lead out to 12-4. In the inning, sophomore Marco Fontana led off with a single and was then sacrificed over to second. An error off the bat of W. Little allowed Fontana to come home to make the score 10-4. After a Callaghan walk, S. Little ripped a double to bring home W. Little and Callaghan.

Virginia Wesleyan got two runs back in the bottom of the seven on a passed ball and base hit to make the score, 12-6, heading to the eighth.

Ithaca tacked on another run in the eighth on a solo home run by junior Matt Carey for the eventual final score of 13-6.

W. Little went 3-for-4 in the game with three runs scored and two RBI, while Gallagher was 3-for-5 with four RBI. Callaghan and S. Little each notched two hits in the win, while Callaghan scored three times and drove in two more. S. Little plated three runs in the contest to go along with a pair of walks.

Senior Jack Morello picked up the win in five innings of work. Morello allowed three runs on six hits and struck out four batters before giving way to junior Emmett Dunn, who tossed 1.2 innings of relief. Senior Robby Buffis logged 1.1 innings out of the bullpen and fanned one, while junior Christian LaLomia fired a scoreless ninth inning.

Ithaca returns to action next weekend when it travels to Long Island to take on St. Joseph's for three games on March 3-4.