HOUGHTON, NY— The Ithaca Bombers completed a three-game sweep of the Houghton Highlanders, defeating the hosts, 4-3 and 16-5, and Saturday afternoon.
 
Game One: Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, David Wessells broke up Bomber start Jake Binder's no-hit bid with an infield single, advancing to second base on a throw that went through a broken first baseman's mitt.  Jeremy Newswanger quickly followed with another single that scored Nick Melchiore to tie the game.
 
The Bombers, however, responded with three runs in the top of the seventh inning, all with two outs to take a 4-1 lead.
 
In the bottom of the seventh Caleb Philips led off with a double to right-center and Joe Gross drove him home with a double to left.  After Gross stole third, Zach Parr cut the Ithaca lead to one with a base hit to center field.
 
A hard-hit ball to second base, however, quickly ended the Houghton rally as the Bombers smoothly turned the game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
 
Game Two: The Bombers scored five runs in each of the first two innings, rapping out eight base hits, to take a commanding 10-0 lead early.
 
Houghton showed signs of life in the third, scoring three runs of their own on four base hits, but the Bomber lead would prove too much.
 
While the Highlanders would put consistently put runners on base, they could not overcome the early deficit.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Game #1 Score: Ithaca - 4 | Houghton - 3
Game #2 Score: Ithaca - 16 | Houghton – 5
Records: Ithaca: 22-7 (15-2 Empire 8) | Houghton: 10-17 (5-8 Empire 8)
Venue: Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex, Houghton, NY | Attendance: 55
 
KEY STATS:
>> David Wessells picked up four hits on the day, including three in the second game.  He has now reach base safely in 21 consecutive games and has had 12 multi-hit games this season.
 
>> Ben Closson and Zach Parr also picked up three hits apiece for the Highlanders, both with a single hit in the first game and a pair in the second.
 
>> Evan Ellsworth, Isaac Kopp and Cristian Lombao combined to pitch the final five innings for Houghton, allowing only one earned run between the three of them. 

COACH'S CORNER:
"We battled hard all day long.  Brandon [Joslin] pitched a tremendous game in the first one today.  We just couldn't pull it out. 
 
"We put ourselves in a really deep hole in the second game, but I'm proud of the way we continued to play throughout, regardless of the score.  Our guys kept trying to claw back into it.

"I should also mention that David Wessells was tremendous today.  He was solid at the plate, and he made multiple plays in centerfield that made my jaw hit the floor.  He did everything he could to put us in positions to win.
 
"These are good learning experiences for us.  We will continue to improve and try to play our best baseball on the last day of the season.
 
"We'll take tomorrow off to celebrate the resurrection of our savior, then come back on Monday afternoon ready to work." –Coach Brian Reitnour
 
 UP NEXT: The Highlanders head to Keuka College on Tuesday, April 23 for a doubleheader with the Wolves at 1:00 p.m.