PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Cornell softball team split it's doubleheader with the Pennsylvania Quakers on Saturday afternoon at Penn Park. The Quakers took game one 7-2, but the Big Red rallied back late in game two to take a 7-6 victory.

Lauren Holt led Cornell offensively across the doubleheader, highlighted by a dominant game two performance in which she went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs, accounting for more than half of the Big Red's scoring output in the 7-6 contest. She also had a hit and a walk in the first game, finishing the day as Cornell's most impactful bat and consistently producing in key moments at the plate.

In game one, Madalyn Covelli, Laney Freiband, and Mila Fiordalisi combined for six innings, allowing seven runs while working through five walks and limiting further damage in multiple innings. In the second contest, Fiordalisi provided a strong start with 5.2 innings and three runs allowed, while Covelli, Emma Harshberger, and Freiband combined in relief to close out

Game One 
The Quakers struck first in the opening inning when Ganje scored on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead. Cornell answered in the second inning as Sofia Hernandez singled up the middle to drive in Tarisa Frans, tying the game at 1-1.

Penn regained control in the bottom of the second inning with a pair of runs to move back in front. A wild pitch allowed Graveline to score and gave the Quakers a 2-1 advantage before Johnson grounded out to bring home another run and extend the lead to 3-1. Cornell responded in the third inning when Hailey Pirkey reached on a fielder's choice to drive in Harshberger, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

The Quakers created separation in the later innings, adding insurance runs to pull away. In the fifth inning, Utschig singled to left field to bring home a run and extend the lead to 4-2 before another run scored on a groundout to make it 5-2. Penn added two more runs in the sixth inning on a two-RBI single from Montgomery, pushing the advantage to 7-2.

Cornell was unable to generate additional offense over the final innings as Penn's pitching staff held the Big Red scoreless the rest of the way. The Quakers maintained control late to secure the 7-2 victory.

Game Two
The Big Red struck first in the second inning when Hernandez lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Frans, giving Cornell a 1-0 lead. Penn answered in the third inning as Smith singled to right field to tie the game at 1-1.

The Quakers took control in the fifth inning with a three-run frame to build a 4-1 advantage. A bases-loaded walk by Montgomery gave Penn a 2-1 lead before Utschig was hit by a pitch to force in another run and extend the margin to 3-1. A wild pitch later in the inning allowed another run to score, pushing the Quakers' lead to 4-1.

Cornell began to chip away in the sixth inning when Holt homered to cut the deficit to 4-2. Penn responded immediately in the bottom half with a solo home run from Youngren to extend the lead to 5-2, and later added another run on a bases-loaded walk to make it 6-2. The back-and-forth inning set the stage for a dramatic finish.

Addison Pressley singled up the middle to score Pirkey, trimming the deficit to 6-3, and later a wild pitch allowed Hernandez to score and cut the lead to 6-4. Holt delivered the decisive blow with a three-run home run, scoring Charlize Cai and Pressley to give Cornell a 7-6 lead. Cornell held on in the bottom of the inning to secure the come-from-behind victory and split the doubleheader.

Next Up
The Cornell softball team will return to the diamond tomorrow for the series finale against Penn. The Big Red and the Quakers are set to meet at 12:30 p.m. at Penn Park. Game action will be broadcast on ESPN+.