Score (Game One): Ithaca College 4 – Elmira College 1
Score (Game Two): Ithaca College 7 – Elmira College 1
Records: Ithaca (24-14, 12-5 Empire 8), Elmira (14-24, 4-13 Empire 8)
Location: Freeman Field – Ithaca, NY
 
Ithaca, NY -- The Elmira College baseball team had its conference tournament hopes dashed on Saturday afternoon, as Ithaca College swept both ends of a make-up doubleheader to complete the season series between the two programs. The losses dropped Elmira's Empire 8 Conference record to 4-13, eliminating them from contention for the fourth and final conference tournament berth.
 
The Bombers jumped out to an early advantage in the opener. After Elmira starter Conor Bawiec '18 retired the first batter he faced, Ithaca strung together three consecutive hits to snag a 2-0 lead. Webb Little and Trevor Thompson split the gap in right-center with back-to-back doubles to open the scoring, while Sam Little grounded a single up the middle to extend the advantage.
 
Elmira answered with a run of its own in the very next half inning. Dennis Rudolph '18 reached base on an error with one out. Nate Hanner '18 followed with a sharply hit grounder back through the box to put runners on first and second. The duo moved up 90-feet on a double steal, which put both in scoring position. Brian Wehmeyer '16 knocked a moderate-depth fly ball into left-center that brought home Rudolph on a sacrifice fly. The Bombers escaped the inning still holding onto the lead, as Ithaca starter John Prendergast induced a ground ball to second from Matt van Muelken '18, which left Hanner stranded on base.
 
Bawiec rebounded with solid work on the mound. Although the Bombers were able to put runners on base in two of the next three innings, the second-year righty each time was able to escape the jam with strong work. Unfortunately, Ithaca was finally able to break through in the fifth to extend the advantage.
 
With one runner on and one out in the frame, Webb Little drove a ball deep into right-center. Elmira center fielder, Hayden Rothenberg '17, tracked the ball and made a jumping attempt to snare the rocket, but was unable to corral and crashed down hard onto the warning track. Visibly shaken-up on the play, he could only shuffle the ball to Rudolph, before remaining down for extended time. Little was able to circle the bases for an inside-the-park homer, which extended the Ithaca lead to 4-1.
 
The three-run lead was more than enough for Prendergast. Although he allowed two hits in the sixth, including the 20^th double of the season by Elmira's Dylan Bellinger '17, the Ithaca starter was able to escape the jam. He struck out the side in the seventh to lock down the Bombers win.
 
Needing to sweep its final three conference matchups in order to qualify for the conference tournament, the loss was deflating one of the Soaring Eagles. Although the disappointment was still fresh, EC showed nice jump in getting off to a quick start in the second game of the afternoon.
 
Elmira plated a run in the top of the first to snatch an early 1-0 lead. Bryce Plante '18 drew a one-out walk, while he quickly advanced to third when Bellinger bashed another two-bagger into the gap in left-center. Bawiec pushed Plante across in the ensuing at-bat, slashing a sacrifice fly into left center. Although Nate Hanner '18 kept the inning going with a hard-hit single to left, the inning came to an end when Will Jenkins '18 went down swinging.
 
The lead only lasted until the next half inning when Trevor Thompson drove home Webb Little, who doubled earlier in the frame, with a sacrifice fly.
 
The Bombers pulled ahead for good the following inning when Ithaca catcher, Adam Gallagher, drove an offering from Elmira starter, Andy Reed '19, over the scoreboard in left-center for a two-run homer.
 
The lead expanded over the next two frames, as Ithaca added another run in the third inning and two more runs in the fourth.
 
Elmira looked poised to get back into the contest in the top of the sixth. Bellinger and Bawiec led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Hanner nearly kept things going, but his line drive was hit just a little too hard, carrying out to the right fielder. Although both Bellinger and Bawiec were able to move up 90-feet during the ensuing at-bat due to a passed ball, the prime scoring situation went by the wayside as Ithaca starter, Benji Parkes, was able to neutralize the threat.
 
The Soaring Eagles put runners on in both the eighth and ninth innings, but Parkes held firm to go the distance in the 7-1 win.
 
Inside the Box Score (Game One)

• Ithaca outhit Elmira 8-to-5 in the opener.
• The Bombers committed two errors, while Elmira was not charged with a defensive miscue in the contest.
• The Soaring Eagles left three men on base, while Ithaca stranded four runners.
• Five Elmira batters collected one hit each.
• Wehmeyer finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.
• Rudolph went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
• Bellinger, Hanner and Rothenberg each finished 1-for-3.
• Bellinger's hit was a double.
• Rudolph and Hanner each stole one base.
• Bawiec went the distance for EC, firing 6.0 innings of four-run ball. He allowed eight hits and issued one walk, while he also struck out three.

 
Inside the Box Score (Game Two)

• Ithaca outhit Elmira 11-to-8 in the second game of the afternoon.
• Both teams committed one error.
• The Soaring Eagles left 11 men on base, while the Bombers only stranded five runners.
• Five Elmira batters collected hits, while two posted multi-hit efforts.
• Bellinger led the way, going 3-for-5 with a double.
• Hanner finished 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.
• Bawiec went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Plante also finished 1-for-3 and scored Elmira's lone run.
• Rudolph finished 1-for-5 with a double.
• Reed went 7.0 innings, allowing seven runs, all earned, on 10 hits. He walked one and struck out three.
• Ladka pitched a scoreless eighth inning, working around one hit and one walk.

 
News and Notes

• With the two losses, Elmira falls out of contention for an Empire 8 Tournament berth.
• Ithaca swept the season series against EC.
• Elmira is now 0-6 against Ithaca over its first two season.
• Bellinger extended his conference leading doubles total, bashing a two-bagger in each game to bring his season total to 21.
• Rothenberg's streak of games with a run scored was snapped at seven.
• Hanner upped his hitting streak to five games, while he notched his fourth multi-hit game over his last five with two hits in game two.
• Bawiec had secured wins in his last four decisions, but had that streak snapped.

 
Up Next
Elmira concludes its season tomorrow afternoon when it faces SUNY Canton in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.