Baseball took to Booth Field one final time this season to face off against Princeton University in a three-game series with serious playoff implications. If the Red won the series and its Ivy League foe Harvard University lost in its three-game series against Columbia, the Red could secure a spot in the Ivy League tournament.
To open the first game of the series, the Red opened with senior outfielder Ryan Porter hitting a home run in the second inning. Later, senior captain and outfielder Jakobi Davis flied out to center field, bringing home senior outfielder John Quinlan.
In the fourth inning, the Red continued to add to its lead, starting with Quinlan hitting a home run that earned him two runs batted in. Then, sophomore infielder Owen Carlson singled through the right side and earned an RBI. Senior outfielder Kyle Musser and sophomore catcher Mark Quatrani each homered to finish the fourth inning with the Red on top, 9-0.
Princeton did not record a run until the sixth inning, but Cornell answered back quickly as Musser hit a home run to left field in the bottom of the sixth. Then, sophomore infielder Kevin Hager singled and made it to second base on the throw, allowing Porter to get to third and junior outfielder Caden Wildman to advance to home plate. To end the sixth inning, Quinlan flied out to center field and Porter made it home. The Red maintained a dominant 14-1 lead over Princeton.
Junior right-handed pitcher Carson Mayfield recorded an earned run average of just 1.69 across six innings and helped carry the Red over the Tigers. Senior pitcher William Jaun came out of the bullpen during the sixth inning for Mayfield.
The Red won the first matchup of the series 15-1, finishing the game’s scoring with a bases-loaded walk.
The second game on Saturday was a different story, starting with Princeton taking a 3-0 lead against Cornell for the first two innings. In the fourth inning, Cornell attempted to dig itself out of the deficit, beginning with Porter doubling to right center and sending Musser home. Hager hit a ground ball that allowed Quatrani to find home plate, and freshman infielder Mason Barela hit a flyout to right field to bring Porter home. Quinlan homered to give the Red a 4-3 lead to end the fourth inning.
The Tigers opened the fifth inning with a home run from Caden Shapiro to tie the score. At the bottom of the sixth, Barela doubled to left field, and Hager scored on a fielding error by Princeton. This would be the last run the Red would have for the rest of the game, as Jake Bold’s home run and two RBIs gave Princeton back the lead. At the top of the ninth inning, the Tigers scored three more insurance runs to win the game 9-5.
With this loss, Cornell eliminated itself from playoff contention.
On Sunday, Cornell celebrated its seven seniors and played Princeton one final time to finish the series and its season. To open the first inning, Princeton’s Will Robbins doubled to left field and earned two RBIs. The next four innings were scoreless until Musser singled to left field, scoring Davis. With Cornell trailing 2-1, Princeton added some insurance runs during the seventh inning as Robbins doubled again to left field and Jake Kernodle found home plate. During the eighth inning, Shapiro hit a home run and earned two RBIs to pad Princeton’s lead to four runs.
To end the game and the baseball season, Quinlan hit a home run during the ninth inning. Ultimately, Cornell fell to the Tigers, 5-2. Quinlan ended his baseball career at Cornell on a high note by receiving Ivy League Player of the Week Honors and leading the team with 26 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and five home runs this season.
The Red finished the season 12-22 (7-14 Ivy), ranked seventh in the conference. While it will lose seven seniors, the Red have plenty of young talent to rely on next year, including Quatrani, Hager and Carlson.
Zeinab Faraj is the assistant sports editor on the 143rd editorial board and a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
