CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Ithaca College baseball team began its spring trip in dramatic fashion as the Bombers mounted a five-run ninth inning comeback to defeat Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, 10-8, on Sunday afternoon in Claremont, Calif. With the win, Ithaca is now 2-2 early on in 2017, while Pomona-Pitzer falls to 6-11.

Pomona-Pitzer jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out double with a runner on first base.

Ithaca answered in the top of the second with a lead-off double by sophomore Sam Little and a bloop single by senior Ryan Henchey to set up runners at the corners with no outs. After a rundown between home and third retired S. Little, but allowed Henchey to move up to third and sophomore Andrew Bailey to second, sophomore Matt Carey drove in Henchey an infield single to tie the game at 1-1. Senior Ryan Dougherty then stepped to the plate and singled in Bailey to put Ithaca on top, 2-1.

In the third, the Bombers tacked on two more runs to build their lead to 4-1. Senior Trevor Thompson found his way on with an infield single and then Henchey walked with two outs. Bailey drove one up the middle to bring in Thompson and Henchey would come in to score on a fielding error by the Sagehens' centerfielder.

Pomona-Pitzer took the lead in the fourth inning, 6-4, as the Sagehens scored five runs in the frame. The Sagehens scored two runs on RBI singles, two on bases loaded walks and another on a wild pitch.

Ithaca trimmed the difference to 6-5 in the seventh on an RBI groundout by sophomore Webb Little with Dougherty on third.

In the ninth, senior Josh Savacool drew a one-out walk and then W. Little followed with a double down the right field line to put both runners in scoring position. Thompson brought in Savacool with a check-swing groundout to tie the game at 6-6, and then S. Little drove in his brother with a base hit up the middle to give Ithaca a 7-6 advantage. The Bombers extended their lead to 8-6 with a single off the bat of Henchey through the left side to push home S. Little from second base. Bailey then picked up his second extra base hit of the afternoon with a triple off the centerfield wall which plated Henchey from first. The comeback was capped off with a blooper off the bat of Carey that found space in right-center and allowed Bailey to cross the dish.

Pomona-Pitzer didn't go down without a fight, however, as the Sagehens cracked a two-run home run with no outs in their last licks. An infield error allowed another runner to reach base, but W. Little closed the door for his first save of his career with a pop out, fielder's choice and groundout.

Bailey paced the offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with a double, triple, two runs and two RBI. Thompson, S. Little, Henchey, Carey and Dougherty all recorded two hits for Ithaca.

Freshman Christian LaLomia earned his first collegiate victory in 0.2 innings pitched with a strikeout. Sophomore Jake Binder started the contest for Ithaca and went 3.2 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits with a pair of punch outs.

Junior Chris Marinaccio tossed 1.1 innings in relief with a strikeout, while junior Robby Buffis threw one inning. Junior Chad Bartlett also fired 1.1 innings of hitless ball.

The Bombers head to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps tomorrow for a 1 p.m. PDT contest in Claremont, Calif.