Final Stats

ITHACA, N.Y. - The Lions took the first game of the twin bill at Cornell in extra innings, 10-4 to eventually split the doubleheader, losing the second game 11-2.

In the first game, the Big Red started out with a two-run lead in the second inning off of three hits. The Lions quickly responded, scoring three runs in the top of the third to take a 3-2 lead. Sophomore Henry Perkins singled up the middle to lead off and then junior Craig Rodwogin followed with a single of his own. Sophomore Dan Neczypor hit the ball to the second baseman, who overthrew second, loading up the bases for first-year Ron Williams. Williams blasted the ball through the left side, scoring two runs. With two outs and the bases loaded again, sophomore Noah Cooper drew a walk, scoring Neczypor for the lead.

The Lions put up another run in the fifth to increase their lead to 4-2. Williams had a lead off single and then senior Michael DeFazio reached on an error by the pitcher as he tried to bunt Williams over to second. Sophomore Mike Malfettone also tried to advance the runners with a bunt, but the Big Red was able to get Williams at third. Senior Marc Gold stepped up to the plate and sent DeFazio home with a single through the right side.

Cornell, however, made up the difference in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs on three hits to tie up the game 4-4. The game went into the eighth inning and Columbia was able to put up six runs in the top half of the inning to take the game. With one out, Cornell committed another error on a ball hit by first-year Mike Roberts to third base. Perkins and Rodwogin both walked to load up the bases and then Neczypor singled through the left side scoring Roberts. Williams hit the ball to the third baseman, who committed another error, allowing another run to score and the bases to be loaded again. First-year Brett Joss earned a walk to score another run and then with two outs, Gold singled through the left side scoring two more runs and leaving runners at first and third. Cooper then earned another walk, loading the bases, and during the next at bat the Cornell pitcher balked, sending another runner to the plate to win the game for the Lions, 10-4.

Sophomore John Baumann (3-3) tossed the win for the Lions, pitching two innings, allowing one hit while striking out one batter. Gold finished the game going 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and Williams had two hits and two RBI.

In the second game, the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning, as Cornell scored five runs on six hits. After the Big Red kept the Lions scoreless, they went up by another two runs in the sixth, 7-0. The Lions then scored in the eighth inning as Rodwogin doubled with one out. Neczypor then singled to center field to move Rodwogin to third and then the Big Red committed another error on a ground ball hit by Williams putting the Lions on the board, 7-1.

In the eighth, Cornell was able to put four more runs on the board. The Big Red combined for three hits to go ahead 11-1. Columbia scored one run in the top of the ninth as Malfettone and Cooper both drew walks. With one out first-year Jon Tasman singled through the left side to make the final score 11-2.

First-year Brett Beller (1-5) was dealt the loss, pitching five innings, allowing 10 hits, five runs while striking out six batters. Perkins finished the game going 2-for-4 at the plate while Williams and Tasman and the team's two RBI.

The Lions travel to Riverdale, N.Y. to take on city rival Manhattan College on Wednesday, April 26th. The game will begin at 1:30 p.m.