MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's baseball team rallied for six runs in its final two at-bats to claim an 8-4 comeback win over American Rivers Conference foe Simpson Friday night at Ash Park Field.
 
The Rams (5-10) took their first lead of the game during a four-run seventh inning and sealed it up from there to back another strong pitching start from right-hander Kole Hinrichsen, who improved to 2-2 on the season.
 
Third baseman Colin Gierula capped a 3-for-3 night at the plate with an RBI single in the seventh that brought the Rams within 4-3. Freshman Kale Rose, who also had three hits, singled home the tying run.
 
Gierula came around to score the go-ahead run on a groundout by Drew Logel. Rose crossed on a passed ball to put the Rams up 6-4, stamping the seventh-inning rally.
 
The Rams accounted for 13 hits in the contest, three coming from Kent who reached base safely for the 15th consecutive game. Rose and Gierula recorded two RBIs apiece. Konicek was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
 
Hinrichsen provided seven quality innings on the mound, allowing only two earned runs and striking out eight. Freshman left-hander Vince Zipperer inherited two runners in the eighth and retired all three batters he faced.
 
Carter Kriegel worked a scoreless ninth inning, fanning two.    
 
Cornell and Simpson (9-8) square off for two more games Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. in Indianola.