RICHMOND, Va. — A seven-run seventh inning capped a dominant performance by Richmond as the Spiders defeated Cornell for the second consecutive day, winning 11-3 on Saturday afternoon at Pitt Field to claim the series victory. Swirling winds contributed to a sloppy afternoon defensively, with the teams combining for five errors and numerous misplayed balls in the outfield.

Richmond capitalized on five base hits and a pair of Cornell errors to turn its 4-3 lead into an 11-3 cushion in the seventh, as Michael Elko drove in three of the seven runs in the frame — beginning with a leadoff home run before adding a two-out, two-run double. Ryan Recio also had a defining performance, blasting a 425-foot home run to center field in the third inning to break a 1-1 tie and give the Spiders (7-4) a lead they would never relinquish.

Grant Kennedy led Richmond's 13-hit attack, going 4-for-5 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Recio finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored, while Elko (2-for-4, double, home run, three RBI) and Trevor Dosenbach (2-for-4, RBI) also had multi-hit performances.

Spiders starter Joey Giordano struck out seven Cornell batters in six innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. Chase Topolski earned a three-inning save, allowing an unearned run and two hits while striking out four.

Sophomore designated hitter Mason Barela, junior shortstop Kevin Hager and freshman left fielder Aiden Barclay combined for six of Cornell's 10 hits. Junior left-hander Huxley Holcombe took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings while issuing two walks and striking out five. Ethan Van Sice (three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings) and Max Foster (four strikeouts in two innings) each dealt at least three punchouts in relief as Cornell recorded its third 10-plus-strikeout outing of the season.

Barela opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-out, two-strike solo home run after Giordano had retired the first two Cornell batters. Richmond tied the game in the second on an RBI single to shallow left field by Joe Crenshaw before Recio blasted his 3-0 pitch 425 feet to dead center to put the Spiders ahead 4-1 in the third.

Cornell cut the deficit to 4-2 in the sixth on an RBI single by Hager and the Big Red nearly pulled closer still — junior third baseman Luke Johnson followed with a hit to extend the inning, but Barela was cut down at the plate on a relay from left field. Cornell challenged the ruling, but the call was upheld following a video review.

The Big Red scored in the seventh, as an RBI groundout by junior second baseman Owen Carlson brought Barclay home after he led off the inning with a single, but Richmond immediately answered with its decisive seven-run frame that put the game out of reach.

GAME NOTES
• Saturday was the 13th all-time meeting between Cornell and Richmond and the eighth since 2022. Richmond extended its series lead to 10-3 with the victory.

• Both Hager and Carlson extended their on-base streaks to 20 and 17 games, respectively. Hager, who has now reached safely in 35 of his last 36 and 56 of his 63 career games, is Cornell's first player to reach in 20 consecutive games since Jakobi Davis (24 games) and John Quinlan (35 games) had their respective streaks across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Carlson has been on base in 30 of his last 31 and 36 of his previous 38 outings.

• Sophomore catcher Ryan Dillon registered his first collegiate base hit, which came on a two-out double in the ninth inning.

UP NEXT
Cornell will look to salvage the series finale against Richmond on Sunday, March 1 at Pitt Field. First pitch is scheduled for noon and game action will be streamed live on ESPN+. Senior right-hander Ethan Hamill (0-0, 4.50 ERA) is slated to start for Cornell, opposed by Richmond right-hander Jackson Hinchcliffe (1-1, 8.00 ERA).