The Bard College baseball team could not hold on to their early lead against Ithaca, as the Bombers rallied back to claim victory by a score of 13-5 in both games of their doubleheader, on a rainy and windy Sunday afternoon.
Bard and Ithaca were scheduled to play two 9-inning games but due to rain and thunder, Game 2 was called after eight innings.
Nine of the Raptors in today's lineup had at least a hit, an RBI or a run, with Michael Kurlan and Xavier Webb leading the team going 2-for-4 in Game 1. Jimmy Famularo, Webb and Sam Dumper all had multi-hit outings with Famularo leading the way going 3-for-4 with three RBIs in Game 2. Kam Naficy and Dumper had two runs each in Game 2.
Aidan Risse started on the mound and threw 5.1 innings in Game 1. Risse only allowed two hits and struck out five before a weather delay paused the game. He finished the day with eight strikeouts and eight hits. Bryant Elliott came out of the bullpen and threw 1.2 innings with four strikeouts, followed by Luke Langford who threw an inning and had one strikeout.
In Game 2, Kane Morgan threw 5.0 innings and had five strikeouts, while first-years Cal Anna and Evan Landsman each threw an inning.
In Game 1, the Raptors took an early lead in the top of the second, scoring three runs. The game was then halted in the bottom of the fourth due to thunder. Once the game resumed, Ithaca caught fire in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring six runs to take the lead. Bard brought home two runs with a two-run home run by Michael Kurlan to reduce the deficit, but the Bombers would add another five runs in the bottom of the eighth to extend their lead.
Game 2 was similar to Game 1, with the Raptors taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Morgan and the Raptors defense held Ithaca scoreless until the bottom of the third inning, when the Bombers scored a run. Ithaca had a 13-2 lead late but the Raptors battled back, reducing the deficit in the top of the seventh with a bases-loaded walk drawn by Kurlan and a 2-RBI single by Famularo.
Bard will travel to USMMA on Tuesday for single game non conference matchup at 5:30 p.m. before hosting Union on Friday at 3 p.m. to celebrate the Raptors four seniors (Mike Hannan, Nick Hubbe, Kurlan and Risse) and to start the conference series against the Garnet Chargers.
