The opening weekend in Newport News and Norfolk, Virginia, for the Ithaca College baseball team consisted of three games in two days and a 0–3 record.
On Feb. 27, the Bombers lost their first of two games of the day against Susquehanna University 15–5. Behind by three runs going into the eighth inning, the Bombers let up eight runs and fell short of a rally in the final two innings, only scoring one run.
The Bombers’ five runs came off of six hits and two errors. Junior third baseman Trevor Thompson led the Bombers for the day with the first home run of the season, two runs batted in and two runs scored while going 3–5. Senior starting pitcher Benji Parkes went 4.1 innings with five earned runs and three strikeouts and was dealt the loss.
The Susquehanna Crusaders were led by senior second baseman Dylan Glassmire, who went 3–4 with a walk and four RBI’s.
Seniors Justin and Matt Cassinelli, first baseman and left fielder, respectively, both were offensively strong for Susquehanna. Justin went 4–5 with three runs scored and a triple, while Matt went 2–4 including his first home run of the season. He also had three runs scored, an RBI and a double.
Junior starting pitcher Cory Fallon went seven innings giving up only two earned runs to earn him the win for the Crusaders.
The Blue and Gold had the lead from earning three runs in the first inning until the third inning when the Crusaders tied the game at three all. The Bombers were unable to retain the lead.
The following game for the Bombers against the Christopher Newport University Captains was a blowout, as the squad lost 17–1. The Blue and Gold were held to three hits and their only run came in the ninth inning.
For the Bombers, senior starting pitcher Brandon Diorio was dealt his first loss of the season after lasting only one inning and giving up seven runs, all of which were earned. Freshman right fielder Sam Little went 2–2 with a walk.
The Captains remained undefeated and earned their seventh win this season after defeating the Bombers.
Crusader senior starting pitcher Blake Ream earned his first win of the season after a strong outing. He pitched six innings, giving up no runs and striking out seven. Junior center fielder A.J. Nicely began the run scoring with a lead off solo home run in the first inning. He finished the game going 3–4 with two RBI’s and two runs scored.
The Bombers’ third and final game of the weekend Feb. 28 was against the Virginia Wesleyan College Marlins, where the Blue and Gold settled for their third straight loss.
The Marlins, now 4–3 on the season, defeated the South Hill squad 7–2. The Bombers had seven errors throughout the game and luckily only two runs were unearned.
Sophomore starting pitcher Tyler Hill pitched six innings, struck out three and only allowed three runs, all of which were earned. The Bombers were unable to secure a lead after Hill left the game, giving him his first loss of the season.
Freshman designated hitter Andrew Bailey hit his first home run of the season, putting the Bombers on the board in the top of the sixth. Bailey’s two-run shot was the only runs the Bombers had in the game. Bailey went 2–4 and came in as a relief pitcher in the seventh where he gave up the rest of the Marlins’ runs. Only two of the four runs were earned.
The Bombers will head to Patchogue, New York, on March 5 and 6 to play three consecutive games against the St. Joseph’s College, Long Island, Eagles. They will be playing the Eagles in a doubleheader March 5 and are set to begin at 11 a.m. followed by a 1:30 p.m. game. Rounding out the series is the final game starting at 11 a.m. March 6.
