The Ithaca College softball team won both games of its doubleheader against the Clarkson Golden Knights on April 27, walking off the first game 1–0 and winning the second 4–0 at Kostrinsky Field.
The first game featured a true pitching duel between both the Bombers’ senior pitcher, Riley Piromalli, and the Golden Knights’ senior pitcher, Riley Page, who combined for 16 strikeouts in the game.
Piromalli only let up three hits in the game and did not allow a baserunner between the third and seventh innings. However, Page only allowed eight hits of her own, holding the Bombers scoreless for most of the contest.
The game was not decided through seven innings and the teams went deadlocked 0–0 into extras. In the bottom of the eighth, it looked like the Bombers were going to walk it off after senior shortstop Tava Kasper advanced sophomore second baseman Sela Scheinman to third with two outs. But first-year student designated hitter Suzie Williams lined out to end the inning, still tied.
For a moment, it seemed the Golden Knights were going to capitalize on the chance given to them. A walk followed by a sacrifice bunt advanced senior designated hitter Bridget Twaits to second before a single sent her to third. However, once again, Piromalli escaped from the inning unscathed and kept the game even.
In the bottom of the ninth, the first two Bombers popped out, but the next two reached base safely on a single and an error. After more than two hours of playing, Scheinman doubled to score senior first baseman Madison Casale for the walk-off victory.
The second game started off with a Golden Knights line drive to right–center field for a leadoff double from Twaits to get the runner on base. Two at–bats later, Golden Knights sophomore catcher Zoey Kovach batted a single to center field to give the team two runners on with two outs. However, they did not capitalize on the opportunity to score first as the Bombers’ sophomore pitcher Anna Cornell struck out Page, who was in the game as designated hitter, to end the frame.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Bombers got the game started with a single to center field from Scheinman. The Bombers’ junior right fielder Hudson Hassler singled to left-center field and advanced to second, allowing Scheinman to run home and give the Bombers a 1–0 lead. Williams then hit a line drive double to left field, scoring a run and extending the Bombers’ lead to 2–0.
In the second inning, the Golden Knights had the bases loaded with two outs after getting back–to–back singles from junior left fielder Katy Aldous and Twaits. However, the Bombers were able to escape the jam as Cornell struck out junior second baseman Molly Pezzano, leaving the runners stranded.
Neither team was able to achieve much until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Bombers got the inning started with a leadoff double from Kasper to left-center field. The Bombers got an extra run after first-year student catcher Haley Petrucci singled to right-center field, scoring Kasper to make it 3–0.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bombers got a leadoff single from senior third baseman Allison Dell’Orto up the middle. Dell’Orto then stole second during Hassler’s at–bat, who flew out to left field.
Advancing the runner proved important, though, as the Bombers increased their lead to 4–0 after Williams singled through the gap on the right side of the infield, scoring Dell’Orto.
In the sixth inning, the Golden Knights threatened to tighten the game. Page got her first hit of the evening, batting a line drive to left field to get the inning started. The Golden Knights were in business as sophomore pitcher Devin Fitzpatrick doubled to deep center field. Page advanced to third base, but the Bombers held her there, keeping the stat sheet at zero for the time being.
With no outs and two runners in scoring position, Cornell struck out Golden Knights sophomore right fielder Bridget Kerwin. Sophomore third baseman Elizabeth Greco hit a fly ball to right field, but Hassler made the catch and Page held at third. The inning ended with the Golden Knights again being unable to secure a run, with as Kasper would making a phenomenal play off a tough stretch and throwing to Casale at first base to get the final out.
With the wins, the Bombers improved to 18–9–1 on the season and are on a four-game win streak. Interim head coach Kelly Robichaud ’16 said the team’s performance today in the doubleheader was one to be proud of.
“They showed a lot of grit, a lot of resilience,” Robichaud said. “They came out and took care of their job and that’s exactly what we talked about.”
Williams said the win was important, especially because it was a conference victory. She also said the second game was a good result following the narrow margin in the opener.
“I’m very, very happy — I mean this was a Liberty League game,” Williams said. “I think it was definitely the motivation that we needed to make the adjustments and corrections we needed to [make] from our prior games and I think we came through in the second game and did that. We made little adjustments and, overall, I’m really happy.”
The Bombers will be hitting the road in their next game and will look to extend their win streak when they play against the University of Scranton Royals in a doubleheader May 2 at 4 and 6 p.m.
