ITHACA, N.Y. – Sophomore Ben Rounds posted four RBIs, sophomore Chris Snopek tallied three RBIs, and Harvard University baseball scored 10 runs over the final three innings to beat Cornell University, 12-11, in the series finale on Saturday afternoon at Hoy Field, sweeping the three-game set to open Ivy League play.
 
Trailing 8-2 heading to the seventh inning, the Crimson (11-7, 3-0 Ivy) plated three runs in the seventh, three runs in the eighth, and four runs in the ninth to rally past the host Big Red (3-11, 0-3 Ivy). Harvard topped Cornell, 7-5 and 11-5, in a Friday doubleheader as a part of its first Ivy League series in over 1,000 days.
 
In the game three win, Rounds went 2-for-5 with four RBIs, Snopek finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, and first-year Peter Levin tallied three hits. Junior Will Jacobsen notched a 3-for-5 effort at the plate then came on to get the save in the bottom of the ninth, allowing no runs on no hits and no walks with two strikeouts.
 
For the series, Levin hit .462 (6-for-13) with six RBIs, two doubles, and a run while Snopek tallied a .455 batting average (5-for-11) with four RBIs, five runs scored, and five walks as a part of a .625 on-base percentage.
 
After Cornell opened the game with a 2-0 lead, Harvard tied it at 2-2 with an RBI single from Levin in the second and an RBI double from Berger in the third. The Big Red then scored six straight runs to move ahead 8-2 through six frames. The Crimson began its rally with three runs in the seventh, trimming the margin to 8-5.
 
Following the Big Red moving up 10-5 in the last of the seventh, Harvard scored three runs in the top of the eighth on a two-run double from Rounds and an RBI double from Snopek, pulling within 10-8. After Cornell extended its lead to 11-8 heading to the ninth, the Crimson plated four runs in the top of the ninth with RBI singles from Rounds and Snopek capping the rally. 

Harvard Highlights

• Junior third baseman and right-handed pitcher Will Jacobsen went 3-for-5 at the plate in the game with two runs scored. In the bottom of the ninth, he recorded three outs without allowing a hit or walk and striking out two.
• Sophomore right fielder Ben Rounds went 2-for-5 with four RBIs, a double, a run, and a walk. He has posted three multi-hit games on the year and reached base safely in nine straight games.
• Sophomore left fielder Chris Snopek finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, a double, a run, and a walk. He has 10 multi-hit games and three multi-RBI games on the season.
• First-year Peter Levin posted a 3-for-5 effort with an RBI and a run. For the series, he hit .462 with six RBIs. He registered his first two career multi-hit games on the weekend.
• Sophomore shortstop Jake Berger tallied a double and an RBI. He extended his reached base safely streak to 13 games.
• First-year second baseman George Cooper and sophomore center fielder Peter Messervy each scored two runs.
• Sophomore right-hander Jay Driver threw 1.0 inning of scoreless relief. He has not allowed a run over 12.0 innings pitched this season.
• Senior right-hander Jaren Zinn totaled eight strikeouts in the start.

Game Notes

• Harvard totaled 32 hits and 20 walks across the three-game series, posting a .414 on-base percentage and .296 batting average. The Crimson totaled 13 extra-base hits including 10 doubles.
• The Crimson's pitching staff tallied 36 strikeouts over 27.0 innings pitched in the series.
• Harvard earned its first three-game Ivy League sweep since taking three of three from Princeton from Apr. 24-25, 2018.
• The Crimson improved to 110-54 all-time vs. Cornell.

Next Up

Harvard plays at Holy Cross on Tuesday, Mar. 29 at 5:00 p.m. prior to a home-opening, three-game series against Brown from Apr. 2-3. The Crimson will compete at home for the first time in 1,049 days and will host a regular season Ivy game for the first time in 1,070 days.