ITHACA, N.Y. - The Cornell softball team split games with Colgate on Wednesday afternoon at Niemand-Robison Field. The Raiders outlasted Cornell 5-3 in the opening game of the series, but the Big Red bounced back with a 9-8 walk-off victory over Colgate in game two. Cornell moved to 13-17 after two games, while Colgate shifted to 20-18.

Emma Harshberger led Cornell across the doubleheader, highlighted by a 3-for-5 performance with three RBIs in Game 2, including the walk-off single, while also contributing key at-bats throughout both contests. She was supported by Lauren Holt, who combined for five hits, including a home run, double, and three RBIs, anchoring the offense in both games.

Cornell's pitching staff showed mixed results across the two games. Madalyn Covelli tossed a complete game in the opener, allowing five runs on seven hits while keeping Cornell within striking distance. In game two, Mila Fiordalisi earned the win with five innings and four runs allowed before Laney Freiband handled key relief innings, as the staff combined to limit damage just enough late to secure the victory.

Game One
The Raiders struck first in the opening inning on a sacrifice fly from Taveras, taking a 1-0 lead. Cornell answered immediately in the bottom half as Holt launched a two-run home run to center field, scoring Tarisa Frans and giving the Big Red a 2-1 advantage. Holt's home run moved her into sole possession of second place in the Ivy League's all-time career home run records.

The Big Red added to their lead in the second inning when Samantha Albert singled to center field to bring home Addison Pressley, extending the lead to 3-1. Colgate responded in the third inning as Martin doubled to drive in two runs, tying the game at 3-3. The Raiders then took the lead in the fourth inning on another sacrifice fly, making it 4-3.

Colgate added an insurance run in the seventh inning when Megenity homered to right field to extend the lead to 5-3. Cornell was unable to generate a late rally, as the Raiders held on for the two-run victory.

Game Two
The Raiders struck first in the opening inning when Megenity homered to give Colgate a 1-0 lead. Cornell responded in the bottom half as Sofia Hernandez lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Holt, tying the game at 1-1.

The Big Red took control in the second inning with a four-run frame to build a 5-1 lead. Frans singled to drive in a run and make it 2-1 before Harshberger delivered a two-run single, with Holt also stealing home during the sequence, to extend the lead to 5-1. Colgate responded in the fourth inning with two home runs, including a solo shot from Martin and a two-run homer from Rivera, trimming the deficit to 5-4.

Cornell answered in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend its lead. Harshberger doubled and later scored on a Colgate error to make it 6-4 before Ullensvang singled to drive in another run and push the lead to 7-4. The Raiders continued to battle, taking a 6-5 lead in the fifth inning on a two-run home run from Haluska.

Colgate tied the game at 7-7 in the seventh inning on an RBI double from Raffaelli, then took an 8-7 lead after a Cornell error later in the frame. The Big Red answered immediately in the bottom half as Holt doubled to bring home Frans and tie the game at 8-8. Harshberger delivered the walk-off hit, singling to center field to score Holt and give Cornell the 9-8 victory.

Next Up
The Cornell softball team will return to conference play when it travels to Hanover to face Ivy League foe Dartmouth. The Big Red and the Big Green will begin the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 11th at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Dartmouth Softball Park. Cornell and Dartmouth will play the series finale at 12:30 p.m on Sunday, April 12th. Game action will be broadcast on ESPN+.