ITHACA, N.Y. -- Saturday's Ivy League softball doubleheader between Cornell and Columbia at Niemand-Robison Field has been pushed up two hours, with first pitch now set for 10:30 a.m. Rain is expected in the area on Saturday afternoon, necessitating the change.
ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell will honor its senior class and will attempt to continue to march toward improving its Ivy League mark when the Big Red welcomes Columbia for a three-game set at Niemand-Robison Field. The two teams will meet for a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch at 12:30 p.m. The Big Red will celebrate its five seniors following Sunday's 12:30 p.m. contest.
As Big Red softball continues to climb the conference ladder, surpassing last season's league win total was the first checkmark. It did that last weekend with its seventh win after going 6-14 a year ago. Picked eighth in the preseason poll, Cornell needs to go 4-2 in its final six league games to clinch a winning Ivy mark for the first time since 2012.
The Big Red will say farewell to seniors Zoe Hernandez, Rebecca Kubena, Megan Murray, Maddie Orcutt and Tori Togashi following Sunday's contest, which will serve as their final conference game at Niemand-Robison Field. The five players have combined to start 488 games for the Big Red. Hernandez has played in 81 contests, seeing significant time as an outfielder and key pinch hitter. Kubena is a four-year starter who ranks among the school's all-time leaders in assists and sacrifice hits while playing a solid second base. Murray ranks among the career leaders in doubles (39), batting average (.346), and hits (167) while providing steady leadership as a starter in both the infield and outfield. Orcutt is a three-year starter who has posted 20 career wins in the circle and struck out 212, good for 10th all-time at Cornell. Togashi sits in the top five in school history in fielding percentage (.992) and hasn't committed an error since freshman year while providing a big bat in the middle of the lineup.
Cornell's hitters had a breakout game in Sunday's win at Penn, scoring eight runs in an 8-4 victory. The eight runs were more than the Big Red had posted in its previous five games - combined. In all, five regulars are hitting better than .300 led by sophomore Erin Rockstroh (.438, 15 RBI). Murray has been steady throughout her career and ranks second on the team with a .396 batting average. She enters Senior Weekend with a career .346 batting average (No. 10 all-time at Cornell) and also ranks among the school leaders in doubles (No. 8, 39), hits (No. 10, 167) and on-base percentage (18th, .394). Kubena (.351) and sophomore Kate Jencarelli (.319), as well as Togashi (.312, three home runs, 18 RBI), are also above that mark. Sophomore Bridgette Rooney has a team-best six home runs and is tied for the lead with 18 RBI.
Sophomore Lisa Nelson has established herself as one of the top hurlers in the Ancient Eight and is 7-6 with a 3.74 ERA while ranking among the conference leaders with her 76 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .277 against her, well below the .317 batting average the Big Red has allowed on the year. Nelson's sophomore classmate, Katie Lew, is 5-9 in a team-high 90.0 innings of work. She has pitched nine complete games in 14 starts. Both Orcutt and Cora Geunes have earned important innings in the circle as well.
Columbia enters the weekend with a 19-18 record, including 11-7 in Ivy League play. The Lions continue to make a play for second place in the Ancient Eight standings and will look to put pressure on Dartmouth, who has a 1.5 game lead with three games in hand. The Lions have been solid in the circle, with Madison Canby (10-8, 3.70 ERA in 125.0 innings) leading the way. Erin Gallo (7-4, 3.40 ERA in 84.1 innings) and Maura Lynch (2-5, 3.94 ERA in 37.1 innings) join Canby in making up one of the league's best units. At the plate, the Lions have blasted 38 home runs with five different players hitting at least five. Taylor Troutt (.431, 13 doubles, six home runs, 29 RBI) ranks at the top of the Ivy League charts in nearly every offensive category and is joined on most lists by Madison Gott (.344, 13 doubles, seven home runs, 32 RBI). Sommer Grzybek (.330, five home runs, 26 RBI) and Max Ortega (.324, 12 RBI) are also well over .300, with Maria Pagane and Amanda Nishihira both have seven home runs on the season for head coach Jennifer Teague.
Cornell leads the all-time series 38-20, including 21-9 in Ithaca. The two teams have split the last 26 meetings right down the middle (13-13) and each swept a doubleheader from the other a year ago.
