NEW YORK — Freshman third baseman Luke Johnson's two-run single in the ninth inning broke open a 7-7 tie to aid Cornell (16-19) to a 9-7 victory over Princeton (17-25) at Robertson Field at Satow Stadium in the opening game of the 2024 Ivy League Baseball Tournament early Friday afternoon.
Nine different Cornell players registered base hits in the victory, highlighted by a three-run home run by freshman catcher Mark Quatrani, who was named the Ivy League's Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-Ivy selection on Thursday afternoon. Junior outfielder John Quinlan and junior infielder Max Jensen — who were unanimously named First Team All-Ivy selections — each chipped in doubles.
Junior right-handed pitcher Chris Ellison improved to 4-0 on the year after pitching the final 1.2 innings, striking out one batter, issuing one walk, and hitting one Princeton batter. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Noah Keller allowed two runs on three hits, issuing a trio of walks and struck out a pair over his four-inning outing.
The victory for Cornell also marked the 100th career head coaching win for Dan Pepicelli, the Ted Thoren Head Coach of Cornell Baseball, becoming the fourth skipper in program history to reach the feat, joining Ted Thoren, current associate head coach Tom Ford, and Bill Walkenbach.
"I was really impressed with the poise guys had," Pepicelli said. "To lose the momentum and have [Princeton] jump up and tie it up, I thought we did a really good job competing in the ninth inning and staying poised."
Princeton's Kyle Vinci went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, and three RBI, while Matt Scanell also had a three-RBI performance as part of a 2-for-5 day with a home run.
Andrew D'Alessio was saddled with the loss after pitching 5.1 innings of relief of Sean Episcope, who allowed seven runs on five hits across the first 3.2 innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Quatrani opened the scoring in the first inning with a three-run home run to straight-away center field to give Cornell an early lead.
Princeton chipped away at Cornell's lead behind a two-run double by Vinci that hit off the batter's eye in left-center field.
Following a scoreless third inning, Cornell plated four runs in the fourth inning to jump out to a 7-2 lead over Princeton. The scoring began with an RBI single by freshman shortstop
Kevin Hager with the bases loaded, moving each runner up 90 feet. A sacrifice fly by junior center fielder
Jakobi Davis and an RBI groundout by Quinlan ultimately set up Jensen for an RBI double to center field that gave the Big Red a five-run cushion.
A three-run home run by Scannell in the sixth inning chipped away at Cornell's lead, 7-5, only to be relinquished in the seventh inning behind a solo home run by Vinci and an RBI double by Jake Kernodle.
Ellison escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth by inducing a fly out to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard.
Johnson, who came in as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning, came up clutch with a two-RBI single through the left side of the infield with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth. Following a strikeout and a single by sophomore outfielder
Caden Wildman that put a run on each base, D'Alessio induced an inning-ending groundout to prevent further damage.
Making quick work of Princeton in the home half of the ninth, Ellison set the Tigers down in order, getting a fly out, groundout, and swinging strikeout to close the game.
GAME NOTES
• Friday was the 265th all-time meeting between Cornell and Princeton, dating back to the first meeting on May 19, 1888, and the first time the programs had met at a neutral site.
• Cornell is now 102-161-2 all-time against Princeton and has won consecutive games against the Tigers for the first time since stringing three straight victories together across the 2017 and 2018 campaigns.
• Quatrani's first-inning home run was his 10th of the season, becoming the fourth player in program history to have a 10-home run season, joining Chris Cruz (12 in 2012), Eric Kirby (11 in 1995), and Erik Rico (11 in 2002).
MOST HOME RUNS IN A SEASON
Cornell Program History
• 12, Chris Cruz (2012)
• 11, Eric Kirby (1995)
• 11, Erik Rico (2002)
• 10, Mark Quatrani (2024)
• The first-inning round-tripper by Quatrani also increased the Big Red's already-established program record for home runs in a season up to 47.
MOST HOME RUNS IN A SEASON
Cornell Program History
• 47, 2024
• 38, 2009
• 35, 1999
• 34, 2001
• 33, 2022
• 30, 1995
• 30, 2010
• 30, 2023
• Jensen's fourth-inning RBI double was his 50th hit of the season. Coupled with Quinlan's 52 hits this season, the Big Red duo are the third pair of Cornell teammates to have 50-plus hits in the same season. The previous two instances featured the Big Red appearing in that year's NCAA Tournament.
CORNELL TEAMMATES WITH 50+ HITS IN A SEASON
Program History
• 1977 (Ken Veenema — 56; Dave Johnson — 50)
• 2012 (Brian Billigen — 57; Frank Hager — 52)
• 2024 (John Quinlan — 52; Max Jensen — 50)
• The RBI double also increased Jensen's hit streak to 15 games, marking the second time a Cornell player has had a hit streak of at least 15 games this season. Only Waugh, who had a 19-game hit streak that spanned last year and this season, had a longer streak.
15+ GAME HIT STREAKS BY CORNELL
This Season
• 19 games, Nathan Waugh (2023-24)
• 15 games, Max Jensen (2024 - ACTIVE)
• Behind a first-inning walk drawn with two outs, senior designated hitter
Nathan Waugh extended his on-base streak to 39 games on Friday. Should he reach base in Cornell's next contest, he would be the second player on record in program history to have a 40-game on-base streak, joining Nathan Ford, who had a 42-game streak across the final two games of the 2008 season and all 40 games played in 2009.
LONGEST ON-BASE STREAKS ON RECORD
Cornell Program History
• 42 games, Nathan Ford (2008-09)
• 39 games, Nathan Waugh (2023-24)
UP NEXT
Cornell will play the winner of the other opening-round game between Penn (20-22) and Columbia (26-16) on Saturday at Robertson Field at Satow Stadium. First pitch is currently scheduled for 3 p.m., depending on the timing of the conclusion of the loser's bracket game that begins at 11 a.m. Game action for the entire tournament will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Big Red won the season series against the Quakers, taking two of three games at Tommy Lasorda Field at Meiklejohn Stadium on April 13-14, while Columbia swept Cornell in a three-game series at Booth Field on April 27-28.
