NEW YORK — Columbia junior shortstop Sam Miller hit a two-out, walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth, capping a streak of nine unanswered runs by the Lions (12-14, 7-2 Ivy League) as they defeated the Cornell baseball team (10-10, 5-4 Ivy League) 13-9 on Saturday afternoon at Robertson Field at Satow Stadium.
Joining Miller in avenging Columbia's five-run deficit in the seventh inning were Jack Kail, who hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning, and Owen Estabrook, who also powered a two-run blast in the eighth. Both Estabrook (2-for-3, three RBI) and Kail (2-for-5, two RBI) were the Lions' only batters to register multiple hits on the day. Cole Fellows also joined Estabrook and Kail in achieving multiple RBI, hitting a two-run double as part of Columbia's four-run fifth inning.
Alex Sotiropoulos earned the victory for Columbia, pitching the final 3.1 innings in relief of starting pitcher Thomas Santana. Sotiropoulos allowed four runs (one earned) on three hits while walking four and striking out four. Santana gave up five runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings, walking one and striking out six.
Senior right-handed pitcher
Chris Ellison was the losing pitcher for Cornell, having given up all five of Columbia's runs in the ninth inning on a single hit. He walked three batters, hit one, and recorded a strikeout.
Freshman left-handed pitcher
Sam Keene had a strong second career start for the Big Red, allowing three runs on four hits over four-plus innings. He issued three walks and struck out a season-high four batters. Junior left-handed pitcher
Noah Keller and junior right-handed pitcher
Josh Shea both did not allow any runs in relief.
Sophomore catcher
Mark Quatrani and junior right fielder
Caden Wildman each had three-hit days for the Big Red. Wildman and senior two-way player
Ryan Porter both drove in three RBI apiece.
For the second consecutive game, Cornell built a multi-run lead before its starting pitcher even threw a pitch, as a sacrifice fly by sophomore shortstop
Kevin Hager and an RBI single by Wildman put the Big Red ahead 2-0.
The Big Red increased its lead to 3-0 in the third inning after consecutive doubles from senior left fielder
John Quinlan and sophomore second baseman
Owen Carlson to begin the inning.
Santana settled into a rhythm for Columbia after Carlson's RBI double, retiring the next nine Big Red hitters as the Lions scored four runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-3 lead. Pat Wade started the scoring for Columbia with an RBI double, followed by Fellows, who hit a two-run double down the left-field line, and Griffin Palfrey, who drew a bases-loaded walk to give Columbia the lead.
Cornell regained the lead in the sixth inning, 6-4, with a three-run home run by Porter, who blasted the first pitch thrown by Sotiropoulos over the left-field wall.
In the seventh inning, Cornell scored three unearned runs when a two-out fielding error allowed Quinlan to score, setting up Wildman for his two-run double off the batter's eye in center field, which gave the Big Red a 9-4 lead.
Columbia's series of unanswered runs started with two-run home runs by Kail and Estabrook in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively.
After a groundout initiated the ninth inning, Columbia earned four consecutive free passes (three walks and one hit batsman) to tie the game at 9-all. Following a crucial strikeout of the Lions' leadoff hitter, Miller concluded the game with one swing of the bat, sending Ellison's 0-1 pitch over the left-center field scoreboard to walk off the Big Red and secure the weekend series victory.
GAME NOTES
• Cornell's lead in the all-time series against Columbia now stands at 134-123, as the Lions have won 11 of the last 13 meetings, dating back to 2019.
• Quatrani registered three hits on Saturday, upping his hit streak to seven games. Quatrani has hits in 12 of his last 13 games, slashing .407/.507/.667 with a 1.174 OPS during the span with five doubles, three home runs, 17 RBI, drawing five walks, being hit by eight pitches, and striking out just eight times.
• Quinlan has reached base safely in all 20 games to begin the season and has a 28-game on-base streak dating back to last season. During the streak, Quinlan is slashing .283/.408/.442 with an .850 OPS and has nine doubles, two triples, two home runs, 24 RBI, has drawn 23 walks, and is 9-for-9 on stolen-base attempts.
• Carlson also upped his on-base streak to 11 games following his third-inning RBI double and is slashing .205/.347/.308 with two doubles, one triple, and four RBI.
UP NEXT
Cornell will return to action on Tuesday when it travels to Lewisburg, Pa., for a midweek contest against Bucknell (11-16, 3-5 Patriot League).
First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Depew Field and game action will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Bison will be coming off a pair of Patriot League doubleheaders as it will play Lafayette on Sunday and Lehigh on Monday.
