ADRIAN, Mich. – For the second straight game, the Ithaca College baseball team avoided elimination from the NCAA Adrian Regional and overcame another deficit to take down No. 16 Shenandoah University, 7-5, on Saturday afternoon at Nicolay Field. Ithaca is now 30-16 on the season and will await the outcome of Wabash/La Roche for its opponent tomorrow.

Ithaca trailed, 5-1, heading to the top of the seventh inning, but plated three runs in that inning, one in the eight and two more in the ninth to complete the comeback.

Sophomore Tom Cosentino picked up his fourth win of the season in 5.1 innings of relief. Cosentino entered with two runners on in the fourth inning allowed just one run before he settled in for the remainder of the contest. Over the final five innings, he surrendered just one run, scattered six hits, and had to sit through two different rain delays – including an hour delay in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Bombers had an opportunity to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning as freshman Jack Lynch led off with a single and moved around to third with two outs, but a groundball to second base ended the threat.

Shenandoah took advantage in the bottom half with three runs on four hits. A leadoff single scored on a one-out triple off the right-centerfield and the next batter followed with a base hit to make the score 2-0. After another hit put runners on the corners, a sacrifice fly to center gave the Hornets a 3-0 lead.

Ithaca got a run back in the top of the fourth on an RBI groundout by freshman Garrett Callaghan to plate junior Jake Generali from third base. Generali led off the inning with an infield single and junior Sam Little followed with a hit of his own. After a sacrifice bunt, Callaghan grounded out to first to bring IC to within a 3-1 score. A few pitches later, S. Little tried to score on a wild pitch but was thrown out at the plate.

The Hornets re-established their three-run lead, 4-1, on a base hit through the right side that snuck just passed the out-stretched dive of junior Webb Little into right field.

In the bottom of the fifth, Shenandoah led off with a double and moved up to third on a groundout. In the next at bat, the runner attempted to scamper home on a groundball to third base, but Generali came up throwing to the plate to thwart the chance.

The Bombers pulled to within a 5-4 deficit in the top of the seventh inning with three runs on five hits. S. Little led things off with a double off the right field wall and then Callaghan singled with one out to put runners on the corners. Junior Matt Carey then drove in S. Little with a base hit to third base, and after a groundout, sophomore Andrew Wollner drove in Callaghan and Carey with a line drive single to left.

Ithaca tied the game at 5-5 in the top half of the eighth inning on a sac fly by junior Cam Fuoti, which allowed Generali to score. Generali led off the frame with a ringing double to right-center and moved up on a ground out.

In the top of the ninth, the Bombers took a 7-5 lead on a sac fly by Wollner and a bases loaded walk issued to S. Little. Carey started the rally with a leadoff walk and then Lynch reached on an infield base hit. Both players would steal to move into scoring position, and then Wollner gave the Bombers a 6-5 lead with a sac fly to left. With two outs in the inning, Generali walked to load the bases and Shenandoah went to the bullpen. S. Little stayed patient at the plate and drew an RBI free pass on five pitches to extend Ithaca's lead to 7-5.

Shenandoah recorded a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning, but almost immediately after the hit, heavy rains rolled through to force a delay. Thunder and lightning ensued, which forced the contest to be delayed for more than an hour.

Once the teams were allowed back on the field, the Hornets notched another base hit, but Cosentino induced a game-ending 6-4-3 double play to send Ithaca onto the next round.

Wollner finished the game with three RBI on 1-for-3. Five other Bombers – Callaghan, Carey, Generali, S. Little and Lynch – all recorded two hits in the win. Carey and Lynch also stole bases in the win.

Senior Robby Buffis started the game on the mound for IC and went 3.1 innings. Buffis allowed four runs on seven hits with a strikeout before he was relieved by Cosentino.

Game time for tomorrow is still to be determined as inclement weather is still in the area. There are two more games scheduled to be played tonight – Wabash vs. La Roche and Wooster vs. Adrian.