PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — The Penn Quakers erupted for six runs in a chaotic bottom of the first inning, erasing an early three-run deficit and setting the tone for a 14-5 victory over the Cornell Big Red in the first game of an Ivy League doubleheader on Saturday at Hank DeVincent Field.

The game’s pivotal moment came immediately after Cornell had seized a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI double from Caden Wildman. Penn’s response was swift and decisive in the home half. Leadoff hitter Taylor singled and stole second before shortstop James Secretarski, the top star for Penn, launched a two-run homer to left center, cutting the deficit to one.

The inning continued to unravel for Cornell starter Van Sice, who was relieved after recording just one out. An error by the Big Red shortstop allowed another run to score, and with two outs, Penn catcher Ernie Echevarria delivered the crushing blow, a two-run double to left center that plated two unearned runs. By the time the inning ended, Penn had sent 12 batters to the plate, scored six runs on four hits, and capitalized on two Cornell errors to take a 6-3 lead.

Penn extended its lead with three more runs in the second inning, again benefiting from a Cornell fielding error, to make it 9-3. The Quakers never looked back, adding two runs in the fourth and three more in the sixth to put the game out of reach.

The offensive outburst was more than enough for Penn starter Jake Moss, who earned the win with six strong innings of work. He allowed one earned run on six hits while striking out seven. Reliever Benjamin Moulin was credited with three innings pitched earlier in the game before Moss took over.

Cornell’s Andrew Houghton provided a bright spot in relief, throwing four hitless innings, though he was charged with two runs. Teammate Alex Stoyer pitched a perfect eighth inning.

Penn improved to 12-15 overall, while Cornell fell to 6-19. The teams were scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader later Saturday.

Secretarski finished 2 for 6 with the first-inning homer and three RBIs, continuing a strong stretch at the plate. Echevarria drove in three runs without recording an official at-bat, walking and being hit by a pitch in addition to his key double. Gavin Degnan and Jarrett Pokrovsky each had two of Penn’s 14 hits.

For Cornell, which finished with 10 hits, Kevin Hager and Caden Wildman each had two hits and an RBI.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, whose game simulator had forecast a narrow 5-4 Penn victory. The Quakers’ early offensive explosion rendered that prediction obsolete by the end of the first inning.