Softball (13-14, 4-8 Ivy) began the week on Wednesday with a single game against Syracuse University (22-16) at home. It was a tight contest throughout, but the Red was able to pull off a close victory.
Syracuse opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to right field in the second inning. In the bottom of the second, senior infielder Emma Antich reached first base on an error, knotting the score at 1-1.
The score remained stagnant until the bottom of the sixth when junior catcher Lauren Holt hit a clutch home run to left field and gave Cornell the lead. The 2-1 score would hold, and Cornell claimed the win. The winning pitcher was freshman Mila Fiordalisi, who closed the game with two scoreless innings.
“We came in on Wednesday, showed up and took care of business,” said head coach Julie Farlow ’97. “It was a pretty positive feeling for sure.”
On Sunday, Cornell began a three-game series at home against Ivy League opponent Princeton University (17-3, 11-1 Ivy). The Red were swept in the series, scoring only four runs throughout three games.
“It made us aware that we had some work to do and some adjustments to make,” Farlow said.
Game one was a 7-2 loss for Cornell. Princeton shut out Cornell until the final frame of the game and scored seven unanswered runs, including a grand slam in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the seventh, a single from freshman infielder Emma Harshberger scored two runs. Cornell was unable to overcome the seven-run deficit and ultimately fell in game one.
In game two, Princeton jumped out to an early lead with a four-run first inning and never looked back. Through the fifth inning, Princeton scored twelve unanswered runs. Junior infielder Ella Harrod broke the shutout with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, and Harshberger added another run by reaching first on a fielder's choice. A groundout in the bottom of the fifth ended the game as Cornell lost 12-2.
Finally, game three was an 8-0 shutout loss. Princeton’s pitcher, Brielle Wright, dominated the Cornell lineup, only allowing three hits against the Red.
“I don’t think we performed in many aspects the way we wanted to against Princeton, but it’s done and we have to move on from it right now,” Farlow said. “We have nine very important Ivy League games left to end the year on a good note and still battle for a place in the tournament.”
Cornell will look to rebound in an interleague series against the University of Pennsylvania at Niemand-Robison field beginning at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+.
