WAUKESHA, Wis. – Cornell's baseball team continued a daunting pre-conference road swing this weekend, dropping doubleheaders against No. 16 nationally-ranked Aurora Saturday and Carroll Sunday.

The Rams remained winless through nine games. The five Division III opponents they've faced have a collective 24-4 season record.

Cornell was on the verge of breaking through in Sunday's 5-4 opening game loss to Carroll, before falling 17-4 in the nightcap.

The Rams rallied for four runs in the top of the eighth inning to tie it at 4-4, getting an RBI hit from Nathan White (SR/Union Grove, Wis.) and a two-out, two-run single from Thomas Jones (SR/Lindenhurst, Ill.).

Carroll (4-1) won it with a run in the bottom of the ninth on a two-out, bases-loaded error by the Rams.

Cornell outhit the Pioneers, 10-6. Caleb Sass (SR/Iowa City, Iowa) went 3-for-5 and Jeremy Canfield (SR/Downers Grove, Ill.) added a pair of hits. Cornell relievers Bobby Petersen (SO/Queen Creek, Ariz.) and Preston Wright (SO/Orlando, Fla.) did not allow an earned run over the final three innings.

The Rams were struck by a 12-run third inning against Carroll in Game 2. Cornell committed three errors and the Pioneers capitalized with seven unearned runs.

Colin Konicek (SO/West Dundee, Ill.) led Cornell's six-hit attack, going 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI. Colin Gierula (SO/Lantana, Texas) and Zach Stone (SR/Coralville, Iowa) drove in one run apiece. James Kent (SO/Phoenix, Ariz.) had two stolen bases.

Unbeaten Aurora (7-0), a 2019 regional qualifier, swept the Rams by scores of 8-3 and 9-3. Both were competitive games until the late innings.  

Ian Renger (SR/Bloomingdale, Ill.) plated all three of Cornell's runs in Game 1 with a double in the top of the ninth. Jones chipped in two hits.

In Game 2, Cornell took a 3-2 lead in the fifth on an infield single by Kent. Aurora went ahead 4-3 in the sixth and then broke it open with five runs over its final two at-bats.

The Rams received a double each from Kent, Renger, White and Mitch Lawson (SR/Davenport, Iowa). White and Carson Behrens (SR/Davenport, Iowa) each had an RBI. Kent went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Cornell starter Kole Hinrichsen (SO/Washington, Iowa) pitched six innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out three.

Coming up – Monday's game at Clarke has been postponed due to inclement weather. The Rams are scheduled to play Augustana for one varsity nine-inning game at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Moline, Ill.