Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Brent Jones pitched six innings, surrendering just an unearned run while striking out eight batters, helping the baseball team earn a season-opening split in doubleheader with Navy at Max Bishop Stadium. Junior JD Whetsel had a combined four hits with two stolen bases and two runs scored between the 4-2 loss and 3-2 victory. The rubber game of the series is at noon Sunday.

Game 1: NAVY 4, CORNELL 2 (Box Score)
The Big Red scored a pair of early runs, but later surrendered two unearned runs in the fourth inning. Whetsel was 3-for-4 with a stolen base and an RBI. He and Tom D'Alessandro led off the game with a pair of singles against two-time reigning Patriot League Pitcher of the Week Anthony Parenti -- one of just nine pitchers across the country who hadn't surrendered a run in at least 13 innings of work over the first two weeks. While Whetsel was caught stealing later in the inning, D'Alessandro came around to score on Ryan Plantier's two-out double to left.

After Navy tied the game at 1 in the bottom of the first, the Big Red generated its second run in the top of the second. Whetsel smacked a one-out single to right field with the bases loaded, scoring Matt Hall from third. But that's all Cornell could muster in the inning, with Parenti retiring the next two batters to get out of the jam.

A passed ball led to an unearned Midshipmen run in the bottom of the second to tie the score at 2, then more defensive troubles surfaced in the fourth. An error, a walk and a wild pitch gave Navy two runners in scoring position with one out. Starter Zach McCulley induced a foulout from the next batter for the second out, but the next batter hit a two-run single to left. Just one of the four runs McCulley surrendered was earned, but he was still saddled with the loss.

Junior Eric Upton pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief for Cornell.

Game 2: CORNELL 3, NAVY 2 (Box Score)
The teams once again traded first-inning runs, with Whetsel leading off the game with a double down the line in left. He advanced to third on a flyout to right, then scored on Plantier's single to center.

Whetsel then scored the go-ahead run in the sixth after leading off by reaching on an error. He stole second with one out, then scored on Ryan Karl's single to center. After Nick Busto worked two scoreless innings of relief before the Big Red pushed its lead to two runs in the top of the ninth. Chris Cruz reached on a fielder's choice after Plantier's leadoff single, then came around to score on Hall's double to left-center.

The extra run came in handy, with Navy pulling within one in the ninth against closer Kellen Urbon -- making his first appearance since last March. Urbon retired the first two batters he faced, then the Midshipmen worked a pair of walks. A single scored one of the runners, but Urbon settled down and got a game-ending flyout to left.

Plantier and Kevin Tatum each went 2-for-4 in the nightcap.