ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell softball (10-9, 2-3 IVY) split the opening day of their home series against Dartmouth (10-10, 3-1 Ivy) in two back and forth games at Niemand-Robison Softball Field on Friday afternoon.

Sydney Stapf was unstoppable at the plate for the Big Red going 4-for-5 with a RBI double in the seventh inning of the first game to start the comeback and then a home run in the second game to take a two-run lead in the fifth inning.

Kyrie Denny pitched 10 of the 14 innings on the day with five strikeouts and only four earned runs.

Cornell unitized small ball with four sacrifice bunts to move batters into scoring position.

Game One - Cornell 6, Dartmouth 5

The Big Red faced Jensin Hall in all seven innings who only allowed five hits. Dartmouth put the first run up at the end of the third inning with a sacrifice bunt resulting in a RBI. But Cornell responded fast with a single from Ella Harrod that scored two in the same inning.

There were no hits until the top of the sixth with a two-run homer from the Big Green to take the lead back and then two hits in the top of the seventh to extend the lead 5-2 in favor of Dartmouth.

Then the Big Red came up to the plate. The rally started with a double from Stapf to score walked Maddie Ullensvang. Pressley beat a throw from the infield to reach first safely before she stole second on the next pitch. Emma Harshberger watched four balls loading the bases and bringing Lauren Holt up to bat. Holt poked one to the outfield to tie up the game at 5-5 with Harshberger standing on third. A passed ball a few pitches later ended the game for the Big Red as Harshbarger scored the final run.

Game Two – Cornell 7, Darthmouth 9

The momentum from the first game rolled over to the beginning of the second for each team scoring 10 total runs in the first three innings.

With two runners on, Beauvais homered over the left field fence to score three right off the bat. The Big Red would cut the deficit with a sacrifice fly from Charlize Cai that scored Harrod making it 3-1 after the first.

CU flipped the script in the second inning only allowing a solo home run from the Big Green before tying it up 4-4. Ullensvang and Stapf found their way on base and were advanced with a sacrifice bunt from Addison Pressley. Harrod singled out to right field to score one and Harshberger followed her up with her own single to the same spot to score the other. Holt hit in the final run of the inning with a double to left center.

Each team added a run in the third inning to remain tied up. Cornell broke the tie with a two-run shot from Stapf over the left field wall to take the 7-5 edge.

Dartmouth would hold the Big Red at those seven runs as they added four unanswered runs over the sixth and seventh inning taking the second game 9-7.

GAME NOTES

• Emma Antich achieved a 10-game reached base streak.
• Ella Harrod and Lauren Holt hold the longest hitting streak on the team at six consecutive games.
• Ella Harrod has recorded nine total games with multiple hits this season and leads the team with 26 total.
• Sydney Stapf is now leading the team in doubles with her one today at five.
• Emma Harshberger recorded a season high 11 putouts, two unassisted today.
• The Big Red have split seven of the last nine Ivy double headers dating back to last season.
• After Friday's games, Cornell's all-time record against Dartmouth moved to 43-29.

UP NEXT

The series against Dartmouth will be decided at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow.