ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College baseball team defeated visiting Elmira College, 9-3, in an Empire 8 Conference contest at Freeman Field on Saturday afternoon. With the victory, Ithaca ends a two-game losing skid to improve to 10-9 on the season and 3-4 in the Empire 8, while Elmira drops to 2-17 on the year and 2-8 in conference play.

In what was scheduled to be a doubleheader, it was determined prior to the start that only one game would be played today due to near freezing temperatures. The second game of the doubleheader will be made up at a later date.

The Bombers erupted for four runs on two hits in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. After the first out of the inning was retired, freshman Garrett Callaghan drew a walk to start the rally. Senior Domenic Boresta was then hit by a pitch, and after a passed ball, senior Garrett Snyder drove in both runners with a single up the middle.

Snyder swiped second just a few pitches later and then junior Cam Fuoti was plunked to put a pair of runners on. A wild pitch advanced both runners, and then junior Jake Generali roped a single down the left field line to score Snyder. The inning was capped off with an RBI groundout to second base by junior Webb Little to push home Fuoti.

IC threatened to add it its lead in the bottom of the third as the Bombers placed two runners in scoring position after a single to right-center by Boresta moved Callaghan to third, the throw allowed Boresta to scamper to second. A fly out to center ended the inning and both runners were left stranded.

Elmira got on the board in the top of the fourth with two runs on three hits. After the first two batters were retired, the Soaring Eagles strung together three straight singles to plate their first run. Elmira's second run came home on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the sixth, Ithaca scored four more runs on two hits and an error to extend its lead to 8-2. Fuoti started things off with a one-out single and then moved up to second on a wild pitch. After another errant delivery moved Fuoti to third, Generali stroked an RBI single to center to give IC a 5-2 advantage.

Walks to W. Little and junior Andrew Bailey loaded the bases and then junior Sam Little lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Generali. Two more runs scored in the next at bat – W. Little and Bailey – as a dropped fly ball off the bat of Gallagher.

The Soaring Eagles scratched a run across in the top of the seventh on a double steal and error to pull to within an 8-3 score in the top of the seventh, but a fielder's choice at third base and a double play retired the side.

IC reestablished its six-run lead in the bottom of the seventh as the Bombers filled the bases on a hit by pitch, fielder's choice and walk. W. Little then drove in Boresta with a sac fly in to center to give the Bombers a 9-3 edge, and the eventual final score.

Senior Jack Morello picked up his fourth win of the season in seven innings pitched. Morello surrendered three runs (two earned) on seven hits with six strikeouts. He needed just 97 pitches to navigate his outing.

Senior Robby Buffis finished off the contest with a solid two innings of relief. Buffis fanned two and gave up one hit in just 23 pitches.

Ithaca and Elmira are slated to play one contest tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Freeman Field.