ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell freshman pitcher Laney Freiband earned her first collegiate win while the defense behind her made a handful of run-saving plays as the Big Red beat the Brown Bears 2-0 in the second game of a doubleheader on Monday afternoon at Niemand-Robison Field. 

The Big Red improved to 5-21 overall (3-9 Ivy) and snapped a six-game losing streak. Brown emerged from the twin bill 12-18 overall (5-7 Ivy). 

Freiband, who pitched 6.1 innings, allowed just four hits. Sophomore Kyrie Denny entered the game with one out in the seventh and earned the save, preserving Cornell's first shutout win since it beat Dartmouth 3-0 last May. It was Denny's first career save. 

Cornell strung together quality at-bats in the second inning and went ahead 1-0. After sophomore Sydney Stapf reached on a fielder's choice, freshman Hailey Pirkey singled to right, and freshman Maddie Ullensvang walked to load the bases. Stapf scored on senior Marisa Zorrilla's sacrifice fly to right field. 

Freiband set the Bears down in order in the third before getting out of some trouble in the fourth. Lilly Berlinger walked to start the inning and advanced to second on Jasmine Hsiao's sacrifice bunt. Freiband got Cameron Zyykewicz Ray to pop out to right and struck out Brianna Rodriguez to end the scoring threat. 

Freiband had a much larger jam to escape in the top of the fifth after the first two batters singled and moved into scoring position on Vanessa Alexander's sacrifice bunt. With one out and runners on second and third, Jayme Gross ripped a ball that seemed destined for the left-field corner. Travieso made the play of the day — and possibly the best by the Big Red this season. 

The senior dove and snared the rocket line drive as Brown baserunner Liv Kam began to move toward home plate. Travieso landed on the third-base bag to complete the unassisted double-play, ending the inning. 

Cornell junior Emma Antich gave the Big Red some breathing room in the bottom half of the inning, plating sophomore Kate Callaway with a single to center. The Big Red's defense came up big again in the next half-inning. 

Brown's Laurel Moody belted a high drive to left field, and Stapf, who raced back toward the fence, took a home run away. She recorded all three putouts in that inning. 

The Bears threatened to score one more time in the seventh as Dara Enligh walked and Moe Kastens singled with one out. Denny came in and slammed the door shut, recording the final two outs to earn the Big Red a split of the doubleheader. 

Game 1 Recap: Brown 4, Cornell 3

Brown's Brianna Rodriguez drove in two runs with a double in the first and one more with a double in the sixth to give the Bears a 3-0 lead. Moe Kastens also drove in a run in the sixth, giving Brown a 4-0 lead on a sacrifice fly that scored Rodriguez. 

Cornell junior Emma Antich made it a one-run game in the bottom of that inning, blasting a three-run shot down the left-field line for her fifth home run of the season. 

Brown pitcher Macy Borowski pitched six innings and struck out nine Cornell batters. Alexis Guevera earned the save, recording the final three outs. 

Cornell junior pitcher Maxine McCraw went seven innings. She gave up eight hits, walked two batters and recorded three strikeouts. 

Up Next: 

• Cornell faces crosstown foe Ithaca College on Tuesday, April 16, at 4 p.m. at Neimand-Robison Field. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+. 

• Cornell owns a 33-12 all-time lead in the series. 

• The Big Red has won the last three games in the series. It is 17-2 against the Bombers at home. 

• Ithaca is 16-8 overall this season.