ITHACA, N.Y. -- Ithaca defeated Penn State-Altoona by a score of 2-1 Friday afternoon, dropping the Lions on a walk-off single in the first game of the NCAA Ithaca Regional. The Bombers improve to 25-12 on the season, and will move on to play Rowan in the winners' bracket of the double elimination format.
Senior Sam Bender picked up the win, improving her record to 17-5 in the circle. She allowed just five hits and recorded two strikeouts in the complete game effort. Junior Francesca Busa was 2-for-4 on the day with a run scored and a game-winning RBI. Sophomore Kelly Robichaud was 2-for-3 in the victory, while sophomore Casey Gavin was 1-for-2 with a double and a RBI.
Penn State-Altoona struck first, scoring the team's only run of the contest in the top of the second inning. The Lions scored one run on two hits in the frame, giving them a 1-0 lead.
The Bombers answered right back in the bottom of the third. With Busa at second, Gavin ripped a double to right center to bring in a run and even the contest at 1-1.
Both pitchers were sensational throughout the rest of the game, as the score stayed tied at 1-1 going into the final frame. After retiring the Lions in the top of the inning, Ithaca was able to put runners at second and third in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Busa sent a single to left field to score the runner from third and give Ithaca the 2-1 victory.
The Bombers' play Rowan at 11 a.m. ET Saturday.
