PHILADELPHIA ? Mother Nature wrecked havoc on Penn and Cornell on Saturday, delaying the start of the scheduled doubleheader by over two hours and then halting play of game two with the score tied, 6-6, after eight innings. The second game will resume tomorrow at 11 AM before Sunday's doubleheader.
The Quakers did win game one, 5-2, behind seven strong innings from Jeremy Maas and Robbie Seymour. Maas allowed one run on four hits over 4.1 innings before a tweaked elbow forced him from the game. Seymour stepped in and pitched the final 2.2 innings ? allowing one hit on one run. Maas earned his third win and Seymour picked up his first save.
Penn took the lead in game one when Steve Gable scored on a wild pitch in the third inning.
After Cornell tied the game in the top of the fourth on a Nathan Ford homerun, Penn retook the lead with two in the bottom of the fourth. After Dan Williams singled, Adrian Lorenzo reached on an error by second baseman Jimmy Heinz. Not only did the error allow Lorenzo to reach, both men advanced an extra base ? putting two in scoring position for Jeff Cellucci.
The junior catcher did not disappoint. His infield single to the shortstop was able to score both men. Cellucci was 2-for-3 in game one with two RBIs and a run scored.
The Quakers added a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings. Kyle Armeny scored Tom Grandieri with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Cellucci scored in the sixth when after singling to center he advanced to second on a failed pick-off attempt. Michael Gatti drove him in with a single.
The Big Red added a run in the seventh on a Domenic Di Ricco single, but could not come all the way back.
The Quakers had a 6-1 lead after three innings of game two, but Cornell was able to rally to tie the game in the eighth. With darkness looming over Meiklejohn Stadium, the two teams and umpires made the decision to suspend the game. Play will resume on Sunday morning with the Big Red at the plate.
After the conclusion of the game, the two teams will play the third and fourth games of the series. Sunday is Little League day at Meiklejohn, and all young ballplayers who wear their uniform will receive complimentary hot dogs, soda and a 2008 Penn Baseball Media Guide.
