Five-Run Ninth Powers Baseball Past Richmond, 7-4
RICHMOND, Va. – Freshman Jakobi Davis and junior Wils Guy smacked consecutive two-run hits to highlight the Cornell baseball team’s five-run ninth inning in a 7-4 victory over Richmond on Sunday at Pitt Field.
Cornell (3-8) trailed 4-2 after eight innings before junior Ryan Ross and freshman Ryan Porter worked back-to-back walks to bring the go-ahead run to the plate with no out in the top of the ninth while also chasing Richmond (12-5) starter Alden Mathes. After a flyout to deep left field for the first out, sophomore Matt Barnhorst was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Davis wasted no time delivering in the clutch, jumping on a first-pitch fastball for a double toward the gap in right-center, driving in Ross and Porter to tie the game at 4. Guy then went with a high offering over the plate, lining a ball in front of the right fielder that was read well off the bat by Davis, allowing him to score on Barnhorst’s heels and give Cornell a 6-4 lead.
Guy padded the lead with heads-up baserunning, scoring from third on a wild pitch that never got more than 20 feet from the plate. He finished the day 3-for-4 with two RBI and a pair of stolen bases.
Sophomore Braden Mack earned the victory in relief, recording the final six outs – three via strikeout — while working around a pair of hits and a walk. Senior starter Luke Yacinich was solid in a no-decision, completing seven innings for the first time in his collegiate career.
The Big Red started the day with terrific defense, including a diving stop and subsequent groundout from Barnhorst at second base to lead off the bottom of the first inning. He then started an inning-ending double play that was turned by Porter at shortstop.
Freshman Max Jensen cranked his first collegiate home run with a runner on in the fourth inning to tie the game at 2.
Cornell will now turn its attention to Ivy League play for the first time since 2019, hosting Harvard in a three-game series next weekend at Hoy Field in Ithaca. The teams are scheduled to start a doubleheader at 11:30 a.m. Saturday before the series finale at noon Sunday.
