ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Ithaca College softball team capped off a perfect 3-0 weekend by defeating the RPI Engineers 8-0 in the Liberty League Championship game on Saturday afternoon. This victory marks the first Liberty League title for head coach Kelly Robichaud and the Bombers' third overall title, their first since 2019.
Anna Cornell opened today's game with a first-pitch strike, inducing a groundball from Sydney Speanburg. She then retired Evann McDowell with a strikeout. Callista Adorno recorded the first hit of the game for the Engineers, singling to center field, but Cornell locked back in and struck out Addison Shaffer.
In the bottom half of the first inning, Sela Scheinman worked an eight-pitch at-bat before ripping a double to the left-center field gap. Scheinman scored two batters later when Elise Waddington delivered an RBI single through the right side of the infield. Up 1-0, Cornell continued her strong start in the pitching circle striking out the side in the top half of the second frame.
After Anna Bello sent a fly ball to the warning track, Ava Rao worked the count full and saw nine pitches before doubling off the right-field wall. Belle de Oliveira and Jessie Lopez followed with back-to-back singles, loading the bases with one out. Scheinman would deliver an RBI sacrifice fly and the bases would then clear when Cate Murray ripped a double down the left field line making it 4-0.
Anna Cornell worked another hitless inning, including a strikeout of Lauren Cosselman, bringing her total to five. In the bottom half of the frame, Elise Waddington collected her second hit, this time a leadoff double. RPI was able to escape the traffic on the bases with Ava Market pitching her way out of trouble
The Bombers tagged another run off the Engineers when Sela Scheinman ripped a no-doubt homer over the right-field fence, extending the lead to 5-0. Cornell continued to dominate, pounding the strike zone as she recorded her eighth strikeout, along with two fly outs.
Ava Rao led off the bottom of the sixth inning with her second hit of the afternoon. Belle de Oliveira followed with a single, but Market managed to record back-to-back ground outs to end the inning. Cate Murray came through with a clutch two-run single and later scored on an Elise Waddington double, securing the Bombers' 8-0 run-rule victory.
Anna Cornell earned the Most Outstanding Performer of the Tournament as she went 3-0 to help the Bombers capture the Liberty League Championship. Cornell's final line on Saturday was nine strikeouts across six innings, while allowing just one hit.
At the plate, Cate Murray, Sela Scheinman, Elise Waddington, Ava Rao and Belle de Oliveira each had multi-hit efforts.
As the Liberty League Champions, Ithaca earns an automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament and will learn where its headed for regional play when the NCAA selection show airs on NCAA.com on Monday, May 12 at 11 a.m.