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ITHACA, N.Y. -- Top-seeded Ithaca defeated Nazareth Friday in the first round of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament for softball as the Bombers rallied from an early deficit to post a 10-2 win.

The Golden Flyers, seeded fourth and making their first appearance in the E8 double-elimination tournament, dropped to 18-19 overall and play again at 2 p.m. against Alfred.

Against Ithaca, Nazareth led 2-1 after two innings, but the Bombers secured the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the third and two more in the fourth. They broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning.

Freshman Katie Valerio hit a solo home run in the first inning to give the Golden Flyers an early advantage. Nazareth added its second run in the second inning after loading the bases on three singles.

Base hits by Christa Harris, Lisa Nazarenko, and Jackie DeJoseph put three runners on. Harris was forced home following a walk to Jennifer Linnan.

Ithaca got a two-run single from Caitlin Ryan to secure the lead for good in the third. Allison Greaney added a two-run homer in the fourth before the Bombers ended the game in the fifth. Erica Cutspec had a two-run double and pitcher Nicole Cade ended the game with a run-scoring single.

Nazarenko was the losing pitcher for Nazareth as she was roughed up with 13 hits and 10 earned runs.

Nazareth needs a win over Alfred to play again Saturday.