DURHAM, N.C. – Senior John Natoli made a one-run lead hold up for five shutout innings in his first start of the season, but nationally-ranked Duke scored three runs over the sixth and seventh innings to rally past the Cornell baseball team, 3-1, on Sunday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
 
While the Blue Devils ultimately completed the three-game sweep, Sunday's finale wrapped up an impressive weekend for the Big Red's pitchers. Over the three games, Cornell (0-3) yielded just six earned runs against a Duke (6-1) squad that entered the weekend ranked 16th in the nation by Baseball America.
 
On Sunday, it was senior John Natoli who made a statement with his first start since being unanimously selected as the lone relief pitcher on the 2019 All-Ivy League first team. His return to the rotation resulted in a tidy five scoreless innings with six strikeouts, working around three hits and a pair of walks. He had to settle for a no-decision after Duke plated three against a pair of middle relievers, then sophomore Kevin Cushing powered his way through the final five outs, fanning three.
 
After being held to three hits over the first two games of the series, Cornell had three hits on Sunday before the hosts could record a single out. Freshman Wils Guy led off the game with a base hit through the right side, then juniors Kaleb Lepper and Kalani Matton followed with singles of their own to load the bases with no outs. Freshman Joe Hollerbach drove in the season's first run with a sacrifice fly to center, but a double play followed to minimize the threat.
 
A big moment came in the top of the sixth when junior Ramon Garza laced a ball to left field that came within a foot or two of clearing the 32-foot Blue Monster. The near-home run instead resulted in a one-out double. Duke retired the next two batters to keep its deficit at one, then stormed ahead in the two innings to follow.
 
In addition to Garza's double and Hollerbach's RBI, Guy led the Big Red offensively by going 2-for-4 and the lone run scored. Freshman Alexander Steigerwald had Cornell's other hit.
 
Cornell returns to action next weekend with a neutral-site series against Niagara in Colonial Heights, Va. The four-game set is scheduled to be comprised of twin doubleheaders starting at noon Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.