MOUNT VERNON – Cornell overcame an early four-run deficit and got a big lift from its bullpen in an 8-4 baseball win over Midwest Conference foe Monmouth Wednesday night at Ash Park Field.
 
The Rams (13-20 overall, 8-10 MWC) moved into a three-way tie for fifth place in the league race with six games to go, all against opponents ahead of them in the standings. Monmouth slipped to 13-19 overall, 7-12 in the MWC.
 
Junior right-hander Carter Kriegel was terrific in relief, blanking the Fighting Scots over four hitless innings to close out the game. Kriegel (3-4) struck out seven of the 15 batters he faced and issued one walk.
 
Starter Cai Brevig allowed three earned runs in four innings, leaving with a 4-2 deficit. Chad Dzierba pitched a shutdown inning in the fifth, enabling Cornell's comeback.
 
The Rams pushed ahead 5-4 with the three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth. Colin Gierula, Seth Beals and James Kent all had RBI singles in the decisive frame.
 
Mancke doubled and scored an insurance run in the seventh. The Rams plated two unearned runs in the eighth for the final margin of victory.
 
Drew Logel recorded his team-high 12th multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with a pair of runs. Mancke doubled twice, Kale Rose had two hits and Gierula drove in two runs.
 
The Rams have a pivotal three-game series ahead with third-place Beloit (14-18 overall, 10-8 MWC). The teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader at noon Saturday in Beloit, followed by one game Sunday at noon in Mount Vernon.