PHILADELPHIA - If the University of Pennsylvania baseball team (12-20-1, 6-7-1 Ivy) has shown anything this season, it is the ability to rally. After falling behind in both of Saturday's matchups with Cornell (7-17-1, 3-8 Ivy), the Quakers managed to mount major comebacks in each, nearly closing the gap on a seven-run deficit in game one -- a 10-9 loss -- before exacting revenge and knotting the series with a 9-5 victory in Game 2.

Game One - Cornell 10, Penn 9
WP: Tim Willittes (3-4)
LP:  Gabe Kleiman (1-6)
SV: Andrew Ellison (1)

Game Two - Penn 9, Princeton 5
WP: Dylan Mulvihill (3-0)
LP: Tyler Fernandez (0-3)
SV: None

HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
The Cornell offense sparked early, picking up three runs in the first frame and adding two in the top of the third for a quick 5-0 advantage. The Quakers' offense got going in the bottom half of that frame, as junior Matt McGeagh knocked in a pair of runners -- freshman Eduardo Malinowski and sophomore Peter Matt -- on a well-hit single to right field. Senior Daniel Halevy then closed the gap to two runs with an RBI single to nearly the exact same location, plating junior Sean Phelan. 

From that point on, though, the Big Red bats took over, as back-to-back home runs in the fourth plated three and a third homer in the sixth extended the lead back to five. Facing another series-opening loss, the Penn offense came alive again in the final frame, racking up six runs without recording an out to cut Cornell's edge down to just one. After a three-run dagger from McGeagh sailed over the left-field fence, The Big Red substituted their third pitcher of the inning -- Andrew Ellison -- who managed to close out the win on two pop-ups and a strikeout.

Despite surrendering 10 runs in the game, Penn adeptly coordinated its bullpen to handle the doubleheader, working just two pitchers in the opening loss. Senior Gabe Kleiman suffered his sixth setback of the year, pushing through 3.1 innings before turning the reins over the freshman Brendan Bean. The southpaw gave up six hits and just two runs during his 5.2 innings of work, striking out five along the way.

GAME TWO
The second matchup saw much more consistent offensive production from the Quakers' lineup, as they scored one run in the fifth, four in the sixth and another four to regain the lead in the eighth. After Cornell's biggest bat, catcher Ellis Bitar, jacked his third home run of the day in the second inning to grant the Big Red an early lead, his Penn counterpart -- junior Matt O'Neill -- matched with a solo homer of his own in the fifth inning. Senior Andrew Murnane pushed the Quakers out in front with an RBI single during the ensuing frame, and Matt added insurance with a three-run shot over the center-field wall an at-bat later.

After Cornell knotted the score with four runs in the seventh, the Quakers went back to work in the eighth. Matt got things started with an RBI double, and sophomore Chris Adams, Phelan and McGeagh each notched an RBI as Penn recaptured the lead, this time for good.

Meanwhile, Penn starter Christian Scafidi compiled a brilliant performance on the mound, striking out six through five innings of work. The sophomore's replacements -- freshman Robby Cerulle and junior John Alan Kendrick -- surrendered the lead over one and two-third innings, but sophomore Dylan Mulvihill came in and handled the remaining 2.1 frames to earn his third win of the season.

NEXT UP
The Quakers return to Meiklejohn Stadium for the final matchup of the four-game home stand, battling Cornell for a chance at evening Penn's conference record and picking up the team's second consecutive Ivy League series win.