The Ithaca College softball team closed a historic season on a high note with a doubleheader against the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers on May 3 at Kostrinsky Field. The Bombers swept the Tigers 12-0 in five innings and 5-1 in seven.
The Bombers ended with a regular season win percentage of .806, the best since 2006, when the team advanced to the NCAA College World Series. One of the most impactful players was senior pitcher Anna Cornell, who recently broke IC’s all-time strikeout record. On offense, senior infielder Sela Scheinman also knew her way around the history books. She broke the all-time base on balls record during the 2024 season and is ranked third in program history for all-time stolen bases. With the Liberty League Championship Tournament still ahead, Scheinman is only two stolen bases behind record holder Vanessa Brown ’19.
“Something that’s really cool about Ithaca College is that we can see our stats, which is something that’s unlike travel in high school,” Scheinman said. “It’s not a luxury that we got. Being aware of that, I definitely have wanted to increase my average and end on the highest note possible and I’ve kind of done it.”
Game one
Game one started with a masterclass in pitching by Cornell. She allowed zero hits in the first two innings and although the Bombers scored twice in the bottom of the first, it was not until the second inning that they demonstrated the top-level softball they are capable of.
With the bases loaded, sophomore second baseman Elise Waddington stepped up to bat. She hit a single and the Tigers struggled to keep up as she advanced to second and the Bombers scored twice. Junior catcher Haley Petrucci immediately doubled and sent two Bombers across home plate. The onslaught continued with three doubles, four runs and the South Hill squad going through its entire batting lineup to secure a 10-0 lead.
Waddington kept the energy going during her next at-bat in the third. No one moved as she hit the ball, but as soon as it flew past the fence the dugout poured onto the field.
The only signs of life from the Tigers came when senior center fielder Maddy Cook tried to get the team its first hit of the game. After two strikes, she proceeded to tally eight fouls in a row. Fans started to hunch in on themselves after the third ball crashed into the stands. When she finally hit the ball into the outfield, graduate student center fielder Belle de Oliveira was there in an instant, catching the ball and sending Cook back to the dugout. Both teams seemed to ride out the rest of the game, leaving the Bombers victorious 12-0.
Game two
While the Bombers seemed to explode with energy in game one, a slow and steady pace secured them the win in game two. The tone was set in the top of the third when the Tigers seemed to be making a comeback.
The South Hill squad was up 2-1, but RIT had a runner on first and a confident dugout. Cook returned to the plate to hit the ball toward center field. De Oliveira kept her eye on it as it flew through the air and just as it looked to be out of reach, she dove backward to catch the ball. Lying flat on her back, she held her arm up to triumphantly show the umpire.
After de Oliveria’s performance, Scheinman led the Bombers back to batting. She walked to first and as the Tigers focused on the next batter, she stole second. That was not enough for Scheinman. She waited for another batter to step up to plate, then stole third. During the next play she scored on a throwing error. The Bombers ended the game with a season-high seven stolen bases.
“Honestly, I don’t think a lot when I’m on the bases,” Scheinman said. “It’s all about my jump that I get. … If I feel like I hesitate a little bit, I’m going to stop and hold back. But today, most of my jumps that I got were good. My timing was good off the pitches. When it’s like that, I’m just in go mode until I score.”
The Bombers scored twice more in the fifth and sophomore pitcher Mady Rowell kept the Tigers at arm’s length, leading their team to win its last game of the regular season 5-1. Players proceeded to gather on the field for a Senior Day ceremony, where Cornell, Scheinman and pinch hitter Cynthia Ehrenfeld were presented with framed jerseys.
Tied with the University of Rochester Yellowjackets for No. 1 in the Liberty League standings, the Bombers will continue their record-breaking year at the Liberty League Championship Tournament against the Clarkson University Golden Knights on May 8 in Rochester, NY.
“We’ve got some unfinished business with the teams in the tournament,” Sheinman said. “We haven’t won in my four years here and I think this year we’ve been on the best trend to do it. Just winning leagues is the first goal and we’ll take it from there.”
