Baseball Drops First Game of Season to No. 21 Ithaca College

AUBRUNDALE, Fla. (March 13, 2023) – The Western New England baseball team fell for the first time this season to the 21^st ranked Bombers of Ithaca College by a final score of 11-9. 

Records:

• Western New England: 4-1-1
• No. 21 Ithaca College: 5-3

Pitching Records:

• W: Garrett Bell: 1-2
• L: Jacob Hobart: 0-1

How it Happened:
Ithaca opened the game with three runs in the top of the first when the Bombers capitalized on an RBI single after a leadoff triple would open the game. A sacrifice fly and RBI groundout would quickly give the 21^st ranked team an early three run lead to start the game. Ithaca would score again in the fourth inning after Western New England went quietly in the first three innings of the game on an RBI single that filled the bases with two out. Jacob Hobart would limit the damage to just one run after getting a foul pop out to end the inning. From there, WNE would get on the board in the bottom half of the inning when Kohtaro Shimada singled to center field, scoring Aaron Cole to put the blue and gold on the scoreboard. 

Ithaca would blow the game open in the sixth, taking an 8-1 lead on two home runs and a passed ball that scored another. Western New England would get one run back in the bottom half of the sixth when Paul Villecco would send the ball over the fences for his first home run of the season, scoring WNE's second run of the game. Jacob Hobart would be relived for Robert Zawacki, as Hobart went the first six innings, giving up nine hits and eight runs while striking out three. The Bombers would jump on the Golden Bears in the 8^th, taking their biggest lead of the game at nine runs, grabbing their third long ball of the game when Louis Fabbo connected on a blast to left field that scored two while a double would bring home another Bomber in the inning as Ithaca would take an 11-2 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. 

In the bottom of the inning, Western New England would come alive as the first four Golden Bears would reach base, Jack Loftus via walk, Paul Villecco via hit by pitch, and Aaron Cole via walk which led to a Henry Schowerer two-RBI double to left field leaving two runners on with no outs. Jake Gerraughty would reach on a walk, reloading the bases for CJ Willis, who cranked his third home run of the season, a number that ties the all-time record in WNE Baseball history. WNE was not done, as Cody Waterbury would get hit by a pitch, forcing Ithaca to change pitchers. Jack Loftus would slap a triple to left field, scoring Waterbury to cap off a seven-run inning for WNE to get back into the contest. After a shutout inning from Sean Hogan, Aaron Cole would leadoff with a double to centerfield, though the Bombers would sit the remaining three WNE batters down to take the 11-9 victory. 

Inside the Lines:

• Aaron Cole and Henry Schowerer collected two hits each in the game to lead WNE. CJ Willis went 1/3 with a home run, four RBIs and two walks. 
• After trailing by nine runs, WNE would grab a seven run eighth inning to give Ithaca a scare before being set down in the ninth. 
• Ithaca's one and two hitters combined to go 5-10 at the dish, collecting five runs and six RBIs. 
• The Golden Bears left nine on base in the setback. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will take a day off before playing FDU-Florham on Wednesday, March 15 at 9:00 AM.