Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Cornell baseball team closed out its spring break trip to California with a pair of losses to Sacramento State on Saturday, falling in the opener, 10-6, before dropping an 18-5 contest in the nightcap. Cornell falls to 2-10 on the year with the two losses, while Sacramento State improves to 11-8.

Freshman Frank Hager led the Cornell offense on the day, going 4-for-7 with a run scored, one home run, and four runs batted in. Jadd Schmelzter also had three hits in six at-bats, while Nathan Ford went 3-for-9 on the day with two home runs, three runs scored and four driven in. As a whole, the Big Red collected 19 hits on the day, but the undoing was the 26 hits and six home runs allowed by Big Red pitchers.

In game one, Cornell got on the board in the first inning as Domenic Di Ricco led off the game with a single and came around to score on Mickey Brodsky's single up the middle. The Hornets would respond with four runs in the bottom of the first off starter Taylor Wood. Sacramento State then added another three in the second inning, putting Cornell in a 7-1 hole after two.

Things settled down after that, as Wood retired nine of his next 11 batters and did not allow a runner past first base. After Sacramento State added a run in the fifth, Cornell then closed the gap to 8-5 with four runs in the sixth inning, keyed by a three-run home run by Hager. Ford led off the inning with a solo home run, then, with one out, Schmeltzer singled, moved to second when Nate David was hit by a pitch, with the pair scoring on Hager's home run to center.

Cornell could get no closer, as the two teams traded single runs before Sacramento State added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Wood took the loss, working 5.2 innings and allowing eight runs, five of them earned, on seven hits and three walks, striking out three. Stephen Osterer closed out the game, working the final 2.1 innings, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two.

In game two, the Big Red got off to a fast start, striking for four runs in the first inning. Scott Hardinger drew a one-out walk and Ford hit a two-run shot to center. After a pop-out, Schmeltzer followed with a solo home run to left, and Nate David singled, stole second and scored on Hager's single to left to give the Big Red a 4-0 lead after one.

Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived, as Sacramento State struck for four runs in the bottom half of the first off starter Corey Pappel. The Hornets then sent 13 men to the plate in the second inning, scoring 10 runs and chasing Pappel after 1.1 innings. Sacramento State then got a grand slam off reliever Brian Billigen in the third inning, making the score 18-4. Cornell got a run back in the fifth on a one-out solo home run from Ford to make the final 18-5.

Pappel took the loss in game two, giving up nine runs on six hits and three walks. Patrick Lewicki was solid in three innings of action, allowing three hits and striking out one. David Rochefort worked a perfect seventh, striking out one.

Cornell returns east and will open up Ivy League play next weekend, taking on Brown in the home opener at Hoy Field on Saturday at noon.