BELOIT, Wis. – Will Miller's first pitching win of the season came at an opportune time, sending Cornell to a key 5-3 Midwest Conference baseball victory over Beloit Wednesday night at ABC Supply Stadium.
 
The Rams (15-21 overall, 10-11 MWC) claimed the series win over Beloit, 2-1, and joined a major log jam with five teams battling for the final two spots to the MWC Tournament going into the final weekend of the regular season.
 
Beloit and Ripon are tied for third place at 11-10. The Rams are in a three-way pack with Illinois College and Grinnell, only one game behind at 10-11.
 
The Rams have a huge three-game set ahead at Ripon (15-17 overall). The teams play a single game at 4 p.m. Friday, followed by a noon doubleheader Saturday to finish MWC play.
 
Miller (1-5) strengthened Cornell's postseason chances with a fine six-inning outing against the Buccaneers (15-21 overall). The junior left-hander yielded five hits and two runs, both unearned. Miller struck out six batters and left with a 3-2 lead.
 
Drew Logel's sacrifice fly plated an important insurance run in the seventh. Colin Konicek had an RBI single in the eighth that put Cornell ahead 5-3.  
 
Chad Dzierba tossed two scoreless innings to earn his first save of the spring. He struck out two and did not allow a hit. Beloit had two runners on with one out in the bottom of the ninth when Dzierba induced a game-ending double play.
 
Cornell's balanced lineup received two hits apiece from James Kent, Josiah Shaw, Sam Williamson and Konicek. Logel drove in two runs, recording his seventh multi-RBI game of the season.
 
Darren Mancke tripled to extend his hitting streak to eight games.