ENDWELL, N.Y. – After an eight-day layoff from their spring trip to California, the Ithaca College baseball team returned to action on Sunday as the Bombers hosted Utica College in an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader at Maine-Endwell High School. Ithaca improved its record to 7-3 on the season and 2-0 in the Empire 8 with a sweep of the Pioneers, 4-2 and 11-2. Utica falls to 2-9 and 0-2 in conference play.

Game One: Ithaca 4, Utica 2

The Bombers got on the board early in the opener as senior Webb Little drove in sophomore Garrett Callaghan with a groundout to second base. Callaghan led off the inning with an infield single and senior Garrett Snyder followed with a double to the gap to place both runners in scoring position.

In the top second, Utica threatened to tie or take the lead after a pair of singles moved up on a groundout, but strikeout from senior Jake Binder retired the Pioneers to keep the score at 1-0.

Ithaca had a chance to extend its lead in the bottom of the third inning as the Bombers loaded the bases with one out. Senior Cam Fuoti and W. Little singled, while Snyder walked to fill the bags. An infield fly resulted in the second out and the inning ended with a flyout to center without a run crossing the plate.

The Bombers put two more runs on the board to start the bottom of the sixth as senior Sam Little stroked a pinch-hit two-run home run to the left-center gap with sophomore Jack Lynch on base. After a bloop single from junior Buzz Shirley, followed by a balk, sophomore Brendan Ryan ripped an RBI single through the left side to bring home Shirley to make the score 4-0.

In the seventh inning, the Pioneers strung together two runs on two hits, but was able to generate anymore offense and dropped the 4-2 decision to IC. A lead-off hit by pitch came around to score after a pair of singles and a wild pitch. The final run of the contest scored on an RBI groundout before a lineout to centerfield ended the game

Senior Jake Binder earned his second win of the season and tossed his second complete game as he struck out two batters. Binder allowed two earned runs on six hits.

Callaghan and Shirley each went 2-for-3 in the opener, while W. Little, Ryan and S. Little drove in IC's four runs.

Game Two: Ithaca 11, Utica 2

In the nightcap, IC once again jumped out to an early lead, 3-0, as W. Little belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. Callaghan led off with an infield single and Snyder followed with an infield base hit to set up the three-run blast.

W. Little extended the Bombers' advantage to 4-0 in the bottom of the third with a single up the middle that plated Snyder, who reached on a line drive double off the left field wall. Another run crossed in the inning as sophomore Jack Lynch sent a single off the Utica pitcher's leg and W. Little scampered home.

The inning continued with a two-run double down the right field line by Shirley to cap off the four-run frame and give IC a 7-0 lead. Lynch and senior Adam Gallagher scored on the extra base hit.

Ithaca tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning to build its lead to 9-0. Ithaca loaded the bases on hits from Fuoti and Snyder, plus a walk to W. Little, to set up a two-run single from Gallagher.

Utica got on the board in the top of the fifth after a lead-off double scored on a single through the left side with one out to make the score 9-1. The Pioneers then pulled to within a 9-2 difference in the sixth with an RBI double to right field.

IC got a run back in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly from Gallagher that brought Callaghan, who singled to start off the at bat. Callaghan moved up to third on a double by Snyder, who went 4-for-5 in the nightcap with three runs scored.

The Bombers posted one more run in the seventh on a frozen rope single up the middle by Fuoti that brought in freshman Jason Sarubbi.

Senior Emmett Dunn picked up his second victory of the season in seven solid innings of work. Dunn fanned four batters and surrendered two runs on six hits. Junior Tom Cosentino tossed a perfect eighth inning of relief, while senior Matt Eiel struck out the side in the ninth.

W. Little finished off the double dip with four RBI on two hits, while Gallagher drove in three more. Fuoti notched two hits in Game Two and recorded 15 assists and a putout over the two contests.

Ithaca returns to action on Wednesday, March 27 for a road doubleheader at Stevens in Hoboken, N.J.