PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball team will play for the Empire 8 Conference Championship tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. after defeating Utica College, 5-4, on Friday afternoon at Dugan Yard. Ithaca, now 26-14, awaits the winner of tomorrow's elimination game between Utica and host St. John Fisher College.

The Bombers have now won six straight games and are 13-2 over the last 15 contests dating back to April 17. Ithaca's only two losses during this stretch came against St. John Fisher in a doubleheader on April 30.

In the bottom of the second, Ithaca put up five runs on six hits, all with two outs. Freshman Adam Gallagher delivered a hard-hit two-run single past Utica's shortstop to start the rally. After a single by senior Zach Cole, junior Josh Savacool singled to left to bring in two more runs. The final run came home, Savacool, on a base hit by freshman Webb Little.

Utica fought back in the top of the third with three runs on a two-run double and a fielding error.

The Pioneers notched another run in the sixth on a bases loaded walk to make the score 5-4. The bases remained full, but senior Ryan Contegni entered in relief and got out of the jam with a strikeout.

Contegni would finish out the game for his third save of the season. He gave up just one hit over 3.1 innings pitched and struck out three.

Senior Benji Parkes went 5.2 innings in a starting role for his eighth win of the year. Parkes allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks.

Cole was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and stolen base. Savacool went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run.

Utica and Fisher play at 12 p.m. tomorrow and the title game is scheduled for 3 p.m. An "if necessary" winner-take-all game could be played on Sunday at a time still to be determined.