PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball team battled St. John Fisher College over 10 innings in the Empire 8 Conference Championship on Sunday at Dugan Yard and came away with a 9-7 victory. Ithaca earned its second consecutive Empire 8 title and improves its record to 27-15, while Fisher falls to 34-11.

Senior John Prendergast was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after a gutty performance on the mound. Prendergast earned his second win of the championship, and improved to 6-0 on the season, in 3.2 innings of relief and gave up two hits while striking out two more. On Thursday, he tossed seven shutout innings in the opening round win over Stevens.

The Bombers got on the board in the top of the first on a bloop single by freshman Sam Little with junior Josh Savacool on third. Savacool led off the game with a walk and moved up two bases on a single from classmate Trevor Thompson.

Freshman Matt Carey would single to left field to load the bases, but Ithaca could not push another run across in the frame.

Ithaca plated two more runs in the second on a two-run single by junior Ryan Henchey with sophomore Domenic Boresta and Savacool in scoring position. Boresta singled to lead off the inning and Savacool doubled.

Fisher got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the second on a two-run single through the left side and two outs.

The Bombers plated three runs in the fifth inning on five hits to take a 6-2 advantage. The rally started with back-to-back singles from Thompson and S. Little, and then Carey stroked a two-run double over the left fielder's head. After a single by Cole put runners on the corners, Boresta laid down a suicide squeeze for the final run of the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Fisher scored two runs to get back to within a 6-4 difference. The Cardinals led off with a double and triple to knock senior Brandon Diorio out of the game, and then a groundout to the right side brought in Fisher's second run.

Diorio went four-plus innings and gave up four runs on six hits with two walks. Junior Logan Barer entered in relief and got out of the fifth with three straight outs.

A lead-off triple for the Cardinals in the bottom of the sixth came home on a sac fly and then a solo homerun tied the game up at 6-6. Senior Ryan Contegni came in from the bullpen after the homer and struck out the next two batters he faced.

Fisher took its first lead of the contest in the bottom of the seventh on a sac fly after a pinch runner at first base stole his way to third.

The Bombers tied the game in the ninth on a sac fly from Gallagher, but were unable to take the lead after loading the bases.

Ithaca plated two runs in the 10th on a single from junior Ryan Dougherty that allowed Savacool to score from second base. An error gave Dougherty the chance to move up to third, and then S. Little hit a sac fly to right field to secure the victory.

In the bottom of the 10th, Fisher placed two runners on with two outs, but Prendergast ended the game with a strikeout.

The Bombers pounded out 17 hits in the win as five different players recorded at least two. S. Little led the win, going 4-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored, walk and sac fly. Carey was 3-for-5 with two RBI, Thompson went 2-for-4, Cole was 2-for-5 and freshman Cam Fuoti had two hits in five trips to the plate.

Savacool scored three times and walked twice with a double and stolen base. Henchey drove in a pair of runs in a 1-for-5 afternoon.

Ithaca will find out later tonight if it is selected as an at-large participant into the NCAA Division III Championship.