BRONX, N.Y. (Interstat) — Huxley Holcombe and two relievers combined on a one-hitter Saturday, leading Cornell to a 3-1 victory over Fordham in the first game of a doubleheader at Houlihan Park.

The win was just the first of the season for the Big Red, who improved to 1-8, while the Rams fell to 3-9.

Holcombe, a right-hander for Cornell, was dominant over five and one-third innings to earn the win. He allowed only one hit — a first-inning single by Fordham second baseman Taylor Kirk — and one unearned run. He walked one and struck out four, effectively silencing the Rams’ lineup.

The game’s most critical sequence came in the bottom of the sixth inning, with Cornell clinging to a 1-0 lead. Holcombe issued a leadoff walk to Tim Ford, and a sacrifice bunt by Markey resulted in a throwing error by the Cornell pitcher, putting runners on second and third with no outs. John Hegarty was summoned from the bullpen to relieve Holcombe.

Hegarty limited the damage. Kirk lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Ford with an unearned run, but Hegarty then induced a bunt out and a strikeout to strand the potential tying run at third base, preserving a 1-1 tie.

Cornell immediately responded in the top of the seventh to reclaim the lead for good. Leading off the inning, right fielder Jake Hower launched a solo home run to left field off Fordham starter Chase Hanawalt, breaking the deadlock.

The Big Red added a crucial insurance run in the ninth against Fordham reliever Robbie Stewart. Brendan Barela led off with a single, was sacrificed to second, and scored on a two-out RBI single by Hower, his second run batted in of the game.

Hanawalt took the loss for Fordham despite a strong outing. He went eight innings, allowing two runs — one earned — on five hits. He struck out seven and did not issue a walk.

Hegarty provided two and two-thirds innings of scoreless, hitless relief for Cornell, navigating around two hit batters in the seventh. Max Foster recorded the final three outs in the ninth to earn the save, striking out one.

Cornell’s first run came in the third inning without the benefit of a hit. John L. doubled down the left-field line, was sacrificed to third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlson.

Kirk accounted for Fordham’s lone hit and its only RBI with his sixth-inning sacrifice fly. The Rams managed just three baserunners total, with two coming via hit-by-pitch.

The game was a stark contrast to recent performances for both teams. Cornell entered having lost eight straight, including a three-game sweep at Richmond last weekend where they were outscored 32-11. Fordham’s pitching staff, which had been battered for 10 or more runs in six of its first 11 games, received an excellent start from Hanawalt but was undone by a lack of offensive support.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday.