ITHACA, N.Y. -- Syracuse pitching shut down Cornell late to lift the Orange to a 4-2 victory on Monday afternoon at Niemand-Robison Field. The Big Red fell to 13-24 in dropping their home finale, while Syracuse advanced to 29-19.
Cornell scored two runs in the first inning on the strength of five hits in the game's first six batters, but could only muster four more in the final 6.1 innings against Syracuse pitchers AnnaMarie Gatti and Miranda Hearn. The loss spoiled solid outings in the circle by Cora Geunes (4.0 innings, six hits, three runs), Maddie Orcutt (2.0 innings, two hits, one run) and Katie Lew (1.0 innings, two hits, no runs). Seniors Megan Murray and Tori Togashi closed their home careers with two-hit days, with Murray collecting a double and scoring a run. Madeline Avery and Brianna Straley were both credited with doubles.
Syracuse had 10 hits, all singles, and played small ball with five stolen bases. The top five hitters in the order provided nearly all the offense for the Orange, combining to go 9-for-19 with three RBI and all four runs scored. Sammy Fernandez was 3-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases and three runs scored to lead the way, while Gabby Teran drove in two runs. Gatti picked up her 11th win of the season, settling down after a rough start to go 4.0 innings and scattering eight hits and both runs. Hearn gave up just one hit over the final three innings.
Syracuse plated two runs in the first, but the Big Red answered right back to tie it up in the bottom of the inning. Megan Murray opened the inning with a double and scored when Rebecca Kubena singled to second and scored on a bobble on the play. Olivia Lam's comebacker to the mound later in the inning scored Kubena to even the score.
The visitors took the lead for good in the third after Fernandez singled on a comebacker, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and tagged up on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. It stayed that way until the fifth when the Orange tacked on a run on a Teran groundout after Fernandez led off the frame with a single up the middle. Looking to rally, Madeline Avery led off the sixth with a double down the rightfield line, but that was where she was stranded, as Hearn struck out the side to protect the lead. Three times over the final five innings, Cornell put the leadoff runner on - twice with a double - but couldn't advance them past second.
Cornell closes the 2018 season when it travels to Princeton for a three-game Ivy League set beginning on Saturday, May 5 at 12:30 p.m.
