MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's 17 total runs were not enough in Saturday's 12-10 and 11-7 losses to Monmouth in the Midwest Conference South Division baseball opener at Ash Park Field.

The Rams (2-12 overall, 0-2 MWC) charged back from a 7-0 deficit in Game 1, only to fall on a pair of unearned runs in the top of the 10th inning. Cornell outhit the Fighting Scots (4-2, 2-0) by a 12-9 margin in the second game, but couldn't overcome six errors in the field.

Cornell's Nathan White (SR/Union Grove, Wis.) and Caleb Sass (SR/Iowa City, Iowa) both went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the 3-hour, 24-minute opening game. White's misplayed fly ball to right field capped a five-run eighth inning that tied it at 10-10.

Monmouth spoiled the comeback in the 10th, drawing a leadoff walk and then scoring the go-ahead run off a Cornell error on a bunt play.

James Kent (SO/Phoenix, Ariz.) and Sass finished with two RBIs apiece. Thomas Jones (SR/Lindenhurst, Ill.) had two hits and scored twice.

There were 25 runners left on base in the game, 15 by Monmouth.

Joe Sarnello (SR/Hoffman Estates, Ill.) and Sass both recorded three-hit games in the nightcap. Sarnello was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Sass doubled twice, scored two runs and drove in two. It was Sass' fifth multi-hit game of the season.

Cornell reliever Brett Potter (SO/Glendale Heights, Ill.) struck out four over 1.2 innings. Preston Wright (SO/Orlando, Fla.) retired the side in order in the ninth.

Monmouth took advantage of seven walks and six Cornell errors that resulted in four unearned runs. The Scots scored four times in the seventh to build an 11-3 lead.

Coming up – Cornell resumes play April 15 with a 1 p.m. nonconference doubleheader at the University of Chicago.