Columbia’s chances of defending its Ivy League title took a dramatic turn for the worse this weekend. In a crucial series, Cornell steamed into New York City, taking three of four games from the Lions.
On Saturday, Columbia took a 4-2 lead into the third inning, but Cornell’s offense roughed up Lions starter Joe Scarlata (3-5) for three runs in the inning. Scarlata—who was named Ivy Pitcher of the Week last week for a stellar performance—had massive control problems and coughed up six runs in six innings. Scarlata beaned four batters, including one in the head, and threw a wild pitch as well.
Cornell starter Jadd Schmeltzer (2-1) had a solid outing for the Big Red, scattering seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. Although Columbia threatened to tie the game or take the lead on several occasions, the big right-hander effectively utilized his curveball to induce soft groundouts. Lions hitters were unable to connect on Schmeltzer’s rare fastball offerings, fouling off pitches in all directions.
Columbia’s best opportunity came in the fourth inning, when shortstop Alex Ferrera hit a fly ball down the right field line that was dropped, allowing him to reach second base. But Billy Rumpke failed to lay down a successful bunt—bunting the ball foul with two strikes—and Jon Eisen struck out behind him, allowing Schmeltzer to escape the inning. Cornell added three runs on a monster home run off reliever Harrison Slutsky in the final inning to win the game 8-4.
Game two featured two solid pitching performances by Lions pitchers that earned the team a victory. Freshman starter Pat Lowery was solid in six innings of work, striking out six Big Red batters while allowing only one earned run. Sophomore Geoff Whitaker earned his first win of the season with three outstanding innings of relief where he preserved Columbia’s narrow lead.
Columbia scored two runs in the third inning and tacked on another two in the eighth inning. Ferrera and outfielder Bobby O’Brien each hit doubles and Ferrera stole home for the fourth and final Columbia run in a 4-2 victory.
On Sunday, Columbia lost two close ballgames, the first of which went into extra innings. After Cornell scored a run in consecutive innings off Dan Bracey, Columbia tied the game with a two-run homer by sophomore Nick Cox.
The game remained tied until Bracey allowed the game-winning run on a pair of singles. Catcher Dean Forthun led off Columbia’s half of the inning with a single, but three consecutive teammates struck out swinging as the Lions dropped the pitcher’s duel 2-3.
Game two of Sunday’s doubleheader was a slugfest, and every Columbia batter notched at least one hit in the game. After loading the bases in the first inning, Columbia scored one run on a walk and another on a hit batsman, but was unable to truly capitalize on the situation. Cornell took advantage of two Columbia errors in the second inning and evened the score at two before going ahead by two runs in the third inning on a homer by first baseman Mickey Brodsky.
Mike Roberts came through for Columbia in the fifth inning with a two-out RBI single that tied the game at six runs apiece. Alex Aurrichio then tripled to lead off the sixth inning, and later scored on a Billy Rumpke single to regain the lead.
But Columbia starter Roger Aquino put runners on first and third—committing an error himself—to lead off the seventh inning and was immediately lifted in favor of freshman Brian Valero. Another Columbia error allowed the game-tying run to score, but the big blast came off the bat of shortstop Scott Hardinger, who hit a three-run bomb to break the game open for Cornell.
The determined Lions fought back in the eighth inning and a Ferrera homer brought the team within one run heading into the ninth inning. But Cornell scored its ninth run in the final inning, and after Forthun walked to lead off Columbia’s half, closer David Rochefort earned his sixth save of the season. Rochefort retired Roberts, O’Brien, and Ron Williams—all of whom are home run threats—to end the series.
With the 1-3 performance this weekend, Columbia drops to third place in the weaker Gehrig Division behind Princeton and Cornell. The Lions will face the worst team in the Ivy League next weekend in Penn, but would need Princeton and Cornell to have disastrous weekends in order to squeak by them to enter the championship series.
The Lions will take on Manhattan at home on Wednesday before concluding the 2009 season against Penn this weekend.