RALEIGH, NC – Ithaca used a strong third inning Saturday at Walnut Creek Softball Complex to cruise to a 5-3 victory over the Ramapo Roadrunners. The Bombers produced an offensive explosion and scored five runs to pace the effort in the third.

Ramapo struck first in the opening inning when Erica Moore slapped a single through the left side to start things off. Moore slowly made her way around the bases with the help of her teammates and scored on a wild pitch by Bomber pitcher Marissa Marino.

After two scoreless innings on both sides Ithaca had their coming out party. Hannah Shalett started the charge by hitting a ball back through the middle for a single. After back to back walks, Mel Chinigo smacked a single up the middle to plate Shalett. Then Stacy Pelesz took the Marino fast ball to right field to help bring home Kaitlyn Dulac. The scoring would reach it's peak for the Bombers when Jenn Marro stepped to the plate with bases loaded and doubled into left-center field clearing the bases and giving Ithaca a 5-1 lead.

Ithaca Head Coach Deb Pallozzi knows that the third inning was a key to their victory. “We were just feeding off of the energy from that inning. We've been used to battling back all season and this tournament fits into our style of play. We just have to play it one pitch at a time.”

Ramapo would challenge the Bombers lead in the fourth inning. Becky Pollak started the rally out with a double to left field. Lisa Rizzo then stepped up and chopped the Ithaca lead to two runs when she took the Nicole Cade pitch over the fence with a home run.

“I didn't want this to be my last game, so I stepped in there and was not even thinking about a home run. I just wanted to make contact and when I did, it felt great.”

Nicole Cade picked up the win for Ithaca, but she got some relief from teammate Carly Myers who chipped in three innings on the mound. The two combined for a four hitter and tossed eight strikeouts in the winning cause.

The Bombers made it a complete team effort. Shalett finished 2 for 4, Jessica Stangarone was 2 for 3, Jenn Marro was 2 for 2 with three RBI's, and four other Ithaca players scattered hits around the field.

Ramapo was paced by Rizzo with her two-run home run in the fourth inning. The Roadrunners could only produce four hits in the losing effort and head home early from the tournament with a final record of 36-13.

With the win Ithaca will live to play another day. The Bombers will take on the loser of the Muskingum/St. Thomas game on Sunday at 2:30 PM.

-Peace College SID