Holcombe Helps Baseball Win One Against Columbia Despite Two Losses

This weekend, the previously top two teams in the Ivy League, Cornell (10-10, 5-4 Ivy) and Columbia University (12-14, 7-2 Ivy), faced off in New York City for a three game series. 

The series was moved up one day due to weather concerns. The teams played two games on Friday and wrapped up the series on Saturday. The change in schedule likely worked in the Red’s favor, as Columbia was coming off two days of rest following its loss to Hofstra University.

“We knew that there was a chance for the move-up in the game schedule, so we adjusted by moving up our practice schedule,” said sophomore left-handed pitcher Huxley Holcombe. “We played some good baseball despite coming off one less day of rest.”

Cornell also faced Columbia on its home turf, where the Lions had been undefeated through the season.  

While the first inning of the first game was scoreless, the second inning saw the Red take a 1-0 lead thanks to sophomore infielder Owen Carlson, who singled home senior outfielder and right-handed pitcher Ryan Porter. 

Junior right-handed pitcher Carson Mayfield helped hold the Lions to zero runs, as he produced a pair of strikeouts in the bottom of the second inning. 

During the third inning, Columbia faced three batters and a double play forced the Cornell offense off the field. A mishap on the field allowed Columbia to capitalize and tie the game, 1-1. The Lions took the lead at the bottom of the third inning as Columbia’s Jack Kail hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Sam Miller to find home plate. 

For the rest of the game, the Red’s offense failed to round the bases and Columbia put up 10 unanswered runs. Columbia’s Joe Sheets only allowed four hits across his eight innings played. In addition, he accounted for four double plays which stalled Cornell’s efforts to score. 

Unfortunately for the Red, Mayfield allowed a season-high of nine hits during his five innings played. Cornell conceded the first game of the series with the final score being 10-1, Lions. 

Immediately following this game, the Red and the Lions played the second game of the series. This time, Holcombe pitched 7.2 innings. While pitching was problematic for Cornell just hours before, Holcombe turned it around with a career high of seven strikeouts against a competitive lineup of Columbia hitters. 

“I was aided by our assistant coach Robby Faris, who does a really good job with the scouting reports we get every week, so I had a good description of the tendencies of the batters I was facing,” Holcombe said. “He put together a concise plan for me to attack the hitters.”

While the pitching helped hold off the Lions, Cornell’s offense also came to life in the second game. In the first inning, the Red started strong with junior outfielder Caden Wildman singling to left field to help senior outfielder John Quinlan run home. Later in that inning, Wildman and sophomore catcher Mark Quatrani would both help pad Cornell’s lead to three thanks to senior first baseman William Jaun, who hit a single to center field. 

At the top of the third inning, Porter doubled to center field, driving in two runs as Jaun and sophomore infielder Kevin Hager scored. With Cornell up 5-0, the Lions finally had an answer as Cole Fellows earned two RBIs to bring the score to 5-2. 

Sophomore infielder Luke Johnson rounded the bases in the fourth inning and the Red would hold off the Lions’ valiant offensive efforts during the next two innings. At the top of the seventh, Hager earned a run and Cornell’s lead grew to a comfortable 7-2. 

Columbia earned its final point during the eighth inning off of a hit by Fellows that brought home Anthony Temesvary. 

With a 7-3 victory, the Red tied the overall series and defeated Columbia on home turf for the first time this season. The game on Saturday proved to be pivotal with the series on the line and Ivy League seeding in question. 

“[During] game two I was backed up by strong support from the bullpen, and our offense pulled through like always and got us some runs,” Holcombe said. “Columbia is a really good offense, so Coach [Dan] Pep[icelli] said that it was an achievement to keep them to less than five runs.”

While the Red have typically played from behind, it started Saturday’s matchup by striking first. Hager flied out to right field, allowing Carlson to score. Then, Wildman hit a single to right field, bringing in an RBI as Quatrani got home. While the second inning remained scoreless between the two teams, Carlson doubled to left center in the third and Quinlan ran home. 

Cornell had an early 3-0 lead following the end of the fourth inning. While the first four innings were all Cornell, the Lions were mounting a comeback by the fifth inning. First, Skye Selinsky scored and Fellows doubled down the left field line, earning two RBIs and tying the match. Miller scored in that same inning as the Red now trailed Columbia, 4-3. 

At the top of the sixth inning, Cornell’s answer came as Porter homered and earned three RBIs, putting the Red back on top of Columbia, 6-4. 

Holding off the Lions in the sixth inning, the Red grabbed some insurance runs in the seventh as Quinlan, Quatrani and Hager scored to bring the score to 9-4. These would be the last points the Red would produce, as Columbia’s offense ended the game by scoring nine unanswered runs across the last three innings.

Senior right-handed pitcher Chris Ellison gave up five of Columbia’s runs during the ninth inning, which ultimately allowed Columia to win the third game of the series, 13-9, and win the overall series. 

This game marked a 28-game consecutive streak (dating back to last season) that Quinlan has of getting on base. Quatrani also has 17 RBIs and zero errors on the season — meaning he did not mishandle the ball or cause a misplay — while catching. His career average fielding percentage is now at .986. 

Next up, the Red will have a mid-week game, playing Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. 

“Our midweeks are a sort of reset for the team,” Holcombe said. “To play in a non-conference game will help us pick up the gaps in our game… it is a quick turnaround, but it is a welcome game for some of the bullpen players to get some experience.”

Following this matchup, the Red head home and play a crucial Ivy series against the University of Pennsylvania (13-12, 7-2 Ivy). 

“The attitude is to close up any last gaps in our game and deliver a strong offensive effort,” Holcombe said. “Our pitchers have to step up and keep us in the game.”

Coverage of the games will be available on ESPN+. 

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