THE BRONX, N.Y. -- Cornell split a doubleheader with Fordham on Saturday afternoon, dropping the opener 7-2 before bouncing back with a 3-1 victory in the nightcap at Houlihan Park. Cornell pitching held Fordham to one hit in the second game to pick up its first of the spring (1-8), while the Rams fell to 3-9 overall with the rubber game set for Sunday at 12 p.m.
GAME ONE
Fordham scored early and broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning to defeat Cornell 7-2 in game one.
The Rams took control in the opening inning. With two outs, Tommy McAndrews delivered a two-run single to center field to score Tommy Kirk and Aidan Grabau for a 2-0 lead.
Fordham added a single run in the fourth, but really opened the game in the fifth when McAndrews struck again. The Fordham catcher launched a three-run home run to left field, scoring Grabau and Kirk to make it 6-0. McAndrews finished 2-for-4 with five RBIs to pace Fordham's offense.
Cornell collected eight hits but struggled to generate sustained offense against Fordham starter Ben Elson. Elson scattered just four hits across seven scoreless innings while striking out two. Jackson Hower led the Big Red at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a stolen base.
Kevin Hager added two hits and scored once.
Cornell finally broke through in the eighth inning.
Luke Johnson drove in the Big Red's first run with an RBI double to left-center, scoring Hager. Johnson later scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 6-2.
Cornell starter Charles Mayfield took the loss after allowing six runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings. Reliever Riku Yoshida worked three innings of relief, giving up one run while striking out two.
GAME TWO
Cornell pitching held Fordham to just one hit as the Big Red earned a split. Starter Henry Holcombe set the tone, allowing one hit and one unearned run over five innings while striking out four. Relievers Jack Hegarty and
Max Foster followed with four hitless innings to close the game.
Cornell opened the scoring in the third inning.
Luke Johnson doubled down the left-field line and later scored on
Owen Carlson's sacrifice fly to give the Big Red a 1-0 lead.
Fordham tied the game in the sixth inning without recording a hit. After a bunt and a throwing error put runners in scoring position, Tommy Kirk lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Tyler Ford and even the score at 1-1.
Cornell answered back in the seventh when Jackson Hower launched a solo home run to left field, putting the Big Red back in front, 2-1. Hower then provided insurance in the ninth. After Max Barela singled and moved into scoring position, Hower lined an RBI single to left field to extend the margin to 3-1.
Hower finished 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Barela also collected two hits for the Big Red. Johnson added a double and scored a run.
Fordham starter Charlie Hanawalt was strong despite the loss, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out 10 over eight innings.
Hegarty earned the win with three hitless innings of relief, striking out two and working around two hit batters in the seventh. Foster pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up the save.
Cornell managed six hits but capitalized on timely opportunities while the pitching staff kept the Rams' offense largely silent.
