Cornell baseball split a doubleheader against Virginia Military Institute on March 14 at Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium, winning the first game 7-4 before falling 8-0 in the second. The Big Red improved to 2-10 on the season, while VMI moved to 16-3.
The games marked the first official meeting between Cornell and VMI since April 1, 1929. In the opener, Cornell rallied for five unanswered runs across the fourth and fifth innings to secure a victory that snapped VMI’s six-game winning streak. Freshman right fielder Jake Hower delivered a two-run single in the first inning, and junior second baseman Owen Carlson added an RBI single during a four-run fifth. Sophomore catcher Mason Barela extended his career-long hit streak to eight games with an RBI single in the fourth.
Senior right-handed pitcher Carson Mayfield started for Cornell, allowing one unearned run over five innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Mayfield threw 71.4 percent of his pitches for strikes and increased his career punchout total to 135, moving into twentieth place on Cornell’s all-time list. Junior right-hander Max Foster earned his second save in as many weekends by inducing a game-ending double play.
In the nightcap, VMI posted a four-hit shutout behind starter Clark Driscoll and reliever Hunter Sipe, who combined for twelve strikeouts. Cornell managed just four hits and stranded nine runners. Junior left-hander Huxley Holcombe took the loss after allowing one earned run over four-and-a-third innings.
After Saturday’s games, five Cornell batters are hitting at least .300 this season, led by Barela’s .346 average. The teams will conclude their three-game series on Sunday, March 15, with senior right-handed pitcher Ethan Hamill scheduled to start for Cornell.
