Ithaca Rallies to Eliminate Hornets from NCAA Baseball Field

Ithaca Rallies to Eliminate Hornets from NCAA Baseball Field

ADRIAN, Mich. --- Sixth-seeded Ithaca College scored six runs in the final three innings Saturday to rally for a 7-5 elimination round victory over No. 16 Shenandoah University.

The Hornets (35-12) led 5-1 heading to the seventh, but the Bombers (30-16) had other ideas as the Empire 8 squad touched up SU closer Michael Bugonowicz for a run in the eighth and two in the ninth to complete the comeback victory.

IC began its climb back into it by scoring three runs (two unearned) in the seventh off of Shenandoah starter Gerard DePhillips. With one out in the seventh and runners on the corners, Bugonowicz replaced DePhillips and Ithaca greeted the senior with an infield single, a single to left and another infield single to bring itself back into the ballgame.

A leadoff double combined with a groundout and a sacrifice fly tied the game in the eighth.

The Bombers scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the ninth on a leadoff walk, a stolen base, an infield single and a sacrifice fly. Following a strikeout and intentional walk, Bugonowicz issued a five-pitch walk to Jake Generali to load the bases. Hornets skipper Kevin Anderson turned to lefty Derrick Snider, who walked in the next run before ending the frame with a strikeout.

Chase Smallwood and Nick Goode reached on consecutive one-out singles for SU in the ninth (separated by a 64-minute rain delay), but IC reliever Tom Cosentino induced a 6-4-3 double play to close out SU.

The rally was a stark turnabout to the start of the game as Shenandoah jumped on the Bombers for three runs in the third and one in the fourth. Luke Nussman drove in the first run, plating Grant Thompson with a triple to right. Thompson had led off the frame with a single up the middle. Two pitches later, Keegan Woolford laced a single to right to allow Nussman to trot the final 90 feet home. A Smallwood single to left advanced Woolford to third and the sophomore scored on Goode's sacrifice fly to center.

Ithaca scored a run on two hits in the top of the fourth before SU answered with one of its own in the bottom of the frame. Tristan Baker had this RBI, singling through the right side to score Henry Delavergne. Delavergne led off with an infield single and was sacrificed to second.

DePhillips struck out three, did not walk and a batter and two of the three runs he allowed were unearned. Bugonowicz (5-3) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Cosentino (4-0) allowed one run on seven hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings.

--- This release is courtesy of the Shenandoah University department of athletic communications. ---
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