University of Rochester Athletics

University of Rochester softball dropped its winner's-bracket matchup against the Ithaca College Bombers, 11-2, in a run-rule-shortened five innings on Friday morning at Southside Field.
 
With the loss, the Yellowjackets now will face the winner of an elimination game between No. 3-seeded RPI and No. 4-seeded RPI at approximately 3:00 p.m., while the Bombers advance to the Liberty League Tournament Championship on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
 
Though a double play helped Molly Broccolo work around a one-out single in the top of the first, the Bombers would get on the scoreboard first in the top of the second.
 
A leadoff walk, single and double steal put runners at second and third with nobody out, before Isabella Maynard brought home the game's first run with a fielder's choice, as Cate Murray beat the throw home. Then, after a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Sydney Miranda stroked a two-run single through the left side to score a pair and give the Bombers a 3-0 lead.
 
And after Taylor Brunn worked another 1-2-3 frame, the Bombers would put another three runs on the board. Ithaca would put up runs in each of the second, third, fourth and fifth innings, as they scored 11 runs on 13 hits, tallying 11 runs in their second-straight contest in the Liberty League Tournament.
 
Ava Rao's two-out, three-run blast doubled the Bombers' lead in the top of the third, while Brunn set down the Yellowjackets in order again in the bottom of the frame, as the Bombers' starter retired eight of the first nine batters she faced.
 
Saira Ramakrishnan relieved Broccolo to start the fourth, but the Bombers would keep the runs coming with another three-run blast, this one off the bat of Haley Petrucci, to make it 9-0 Ithaca.
 
In the bottom of the frame, Rochester would get on the scoreboard on Rowan Mulholland's two-run blast, cutting the Bombers' lead to 9-2, and looked to rally with two on with just one out.
 
But Mady Rowell relieved Brunn and worked out of the fourth without allowing another run, sending the Bombers back to the plate, where they'd tack on two more.
 
Madison Schoenenberger's two-run single off Quin Caretti in the top of the fifth extended Ithaca's lead to 11-2, before Rowell pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth to finish things off, and send the Bombers to Saturday's championship.
 
Broccolo (18-5) took the loss for Rochester, allowing six runs on six hits, walking one and striking out three over 3.0 innings pitched. Brunn (4-1) earned the win for the Bombers, allowing two runs on three hits, walking and striking out two over 3.1 innings pitched.
 
Mulholland went 1-for-2 with a home run, run scored and two RBI at the plate, while Petrucci and Rao each had three RBI to lead Ithaca.
 
Rochester will look to stay alive in the Liberty League Tournament when they face the winner of game four, RPI vs. St. Lawrence, in game five at Southside Field on Friday, May 8, at 3:00 p.m., with the winner advancing to Saturday's Championship, needing to beat Ithaca twice to clinch the title.