LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Ithaca College baseball program closed out its spring trip to California with a 6-1 victory at Occidental in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon. Ithaca returns to New York with a 7-5 overall record after going 4-3 out west, including three straight wins.

Senior Jack Morello, a native of Los Angeles, enjoyed the return to his home state as he tossed six superb innings in the win. Morello scattered five hits and gave up one run, while striking out four batters to no walks. In his two starts in California, Morello won both outings in 12 innings pitched with nine strikeouts and only three earned runs.

The Bombers jumped on Occidental early, as they put up four runs in the top of the first inning. With two outs, junior Andrew Bailey drew a walk and then scored on an RBI double by classmate Sam Little. An error off the bat of junior Jake Generali kept the inning alive and then fellow junior Adam Gallagher drove in two with a double to left field. Junior John Peterson capped off the rally with an RBI single to plate Gallagher in the next at bat.

Ithaca tacked on two more runs in the top of the second to take a 6-0 lead. Junior Matt Carey led off with a single and moved up to third on a double by junior Webb Little. Bailey then drove in Carey with a sacrifice fly – foul out to first base, and W. Little scored on a ground ball to second base by S. Little.

Occidental got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning with a sac fly for the Tigers' lone run of the game.

Bailey recorded his first save of the season as he tossed the final three innings in relief. He gave up just one hit and struck out one batter.

S. Little and Carey each had two hits in the win for IC, while S. Little and Gallagher each drove in two runs.

The Bombers are scheduled to play No. 10 Cortland on March 20 at 3 p.m. in Cortland.