LEXINGTON, Va. — Cornell baseball split its doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium, winning the opener against VMI before falling in the nightcap as the Keydets earned the split of the twin bill.

The Big Red (2-10) rallied for five unanswered runs to secure a 7-4 victory in the opener, but VMI (16-3) posted a four-hit shutout to post an 8-0 win in the nightcap.

GAME ONE RECAP
Five unanswered runs across the fourth and fifth innings helped Cornell pull away for a 7-4 victory over VMI in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader at Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium, snapping the Keydets' six-game winning streak.

Cornell took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning behind a two-out, two-run single by freshman right fielder Jake Hower.

After VMI scored an unearned run following a failed pickoff attempt, the Big Red erupted for four runs in the fifth. Following an infield single by junior third baseman Luke Johnson, senior first baseman TJ Swidorski reached on a fielding error on an attempted sacrifice bunt. Five straight Big Red batters then reached base, beginning with an RBI single by junior second baseman Owen Carlson that pushed Cornell's lead to 3-1. A walk by Caden Wildman loaded the bases before sophomore catcher Mason Barela, Hower and junior shortstop Kevin Hager each drove in runs on consecutive singles, extending the lead to 6-1.

Cornell pushed its advantage to 7-1 in the sixth as sophomore left fielder Tyler Beaulieu singled home Johnson, who had led off the inning with a base hit.

VMI rallied for three runs in its half of the sixth. Grayson Fitzwater sparked the comeback with a solo home run, and consecutive doubles by Owen Prince and Cole Raile made it 7-3, with Prince scoring on Raile's hit. A wild pitch brought Raile home to make it 7-4.

The Keydets drew a hit by pitch to begin the ninth, but junior right-handed pitcher Max Foster shut down the threat by inducing a game-ending double play to secure the win.

Senior right-handed pitcher Carson Mayfield was sharp in his five-inning start, allowing one unearned run on three hits while striking out four and walking none. Mayfield threw 40 of his 56 pitches for strikes (71.4 percent). Sophomore John Hegarty tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit, and Foster earned his second save in as many weekends.

Peyton Dhein took the loss for VMI, surrendering eight hits and six runs — four earned — with four walks and four strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings. Andrew Jones limited Cornell to one run on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings of relief.

GAME TWO RECAP
VMI scored in five of eight innings, breaking open a tight contest with a three-run sixth and two-run seventh and eighth innings to defeat Cornell 8-0 in the nightcap at Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium.

Cornell managed just four hits and stranded nine runners as the Keydets improved to 16-3 on the season.

Cole Raile set the tone in the second inning, leading off with a home run to left center to stake VMI to a 1-0 lead.

The Keydets broke the game open in the sixth as Cornell freshman right-handed reliever Michael Tight issued three consecutive walks to load the bases with no outs. After Thomas Conrad struck out looking, JW Kohlmeyer reached on a fielder's choice back to the pitcher, but a pair of throwing errors allowed three unearned runs to score, pushing VMI's lead to 4-0.

VMI added two more in the seventh off senior left-hander Noah Keller. After the first two batters were retired, Bradley Garner drew a walk and stole second before Raile drove him home with an RBI single to right. With Raile on second after a stolen base, Keller walked Cole Cook and a wild pitch advanced both runners. Keller then issued another walk to reload the bases before hitting Thomas Conrad with a pitch to make it 6-0 before the Keydets added insurance runs in the eighth.

Cornell generated its best threat in the first inning, loading the bases with two outs on a single by sophomore left fielder Tyler Beaulieu, senior center fielder Caden Wildman getting hit by a pitch and freshman right fielder Jake Hower drawing a walk, but junior shortstop Kevin Hager grounded out to end the frame.

Clark Driscoll dazzled in his 6 1/3-inning start, shutting out Cornell on four hits while striking out six and walking two. Hunter Sipe worked the final 2 2/3 innings without allowing a run, striking out six, to close out the Keydets' dominant nightcap performance.

Junior left-hander Huxley Holcombe took the loss for Cornell, allowing one earned run on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings in his start.

GAME NOTES
• Cornell and VMI met for the first time in nearly 98 years on Saturday, marking their first official encounter since April 1, 1929. The teams played a three-game series from March 26-28, 1957, with the results counting in VMI's official records, though considered exhibitions for the Big Red. In games counted in Cornell's records, the series continues to be even at 6-all.

• Barela extended his career-long hit streak to eight games with his fourth-inning RBI single in the opening game and his eighth-inning infield single in the nightcap.

• After the doubleheader, Cornell now has five batters hitting at least .300 on the season, highlighted by Barela's team-leading .346 clip.

• Behind his four-strikeout performance in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader, Mayfield increased his career punchout total to 131, jumping ahead of William DeGraaf (134, 1954-56) and Jay Kobylarz (133, 1979-82) for possession of 20th place on the Big Red's career strikeouts list.

MOST CAREER STRIKEOUTS BY A PITCHER
Cornell Program History – Since 1947
1. Greg Myers (1979-82) – 217
2. Steve Hamrick (1973-74) – 203
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T15. 144, Edward Winnick (1949-51)
T15. 144, Nick Bayer (1997-00)
17. 140, Blake Hamilton (2004-07)
18. 139, Tim Willittes (2014-18)
19. 137, Brian Williamson (1996-99)
20. 135, Carson Mayfield (2023-Pres.)
21. 134, William DeGraaf (1954-56)
22. 133, Jay Kobylarz (1979-82)

UP NEXT
Cornell and VMI will conclude their weekend series on Sunday, March 15, with the rubber match of this weekend's three-game set. First pitch from Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium is scheduled for 11 a.m. Game action will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Senior right-handed pitcher Ethan Hamill (0-1, 5.40 ERA) is scheduled to take the ball for the Big Red, while VMI has yet to announce its starting pitcher.