BELOIT, Wis. – Cornell's 15 hits in Game 2 were not enough to prevent a sweep Saturday as Beloit clinched the Midwest Conference regular-season baseball title with 15-2 and 10-8 wins over the Rams at Strong Stadium.
Cornell (18-16 overall) slipped to 9-11 in the MWC with four league games remaining, including a 12 p.m. home contest with Beloit (25-10 overall, 17-3 MWC) Sunday at Ash Park.
The Rams are sixth in the MWC standings, trying to chase down Illinois College (11-9 MWC), Grinnell (10-8 MWC) and Chicago (11-8 MWC) for a top-four MWC Tournament berth.
Cornell made a push in the nightcap after falling behind 7-2 through four innings. The Rams trimmed the margin to 10-8 with a three-run eighth inning, although Beloit prevented further damage by escaping a one-out, bases-loaded jam.
Darren Mancke went 2-for-3 for his team-best 13th multi-hit game of the season.
Colin Gierula produced in his return to the lineup with two hits and three RBIs.
Newcomer
Javier Hernandez went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and two RBIs.
Kale Rose and
Colin Konicek added two hits apiece.
The Buccaneers accounted for 14 hits in Game 2, including four home runs.
Cornell managed just three singles in the seven-inning opener, which saw the Buccaneers jump ahead 8-0 with help from five unearned runs through two frames.
Gierula went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Tre Chatman and
Colton Slinger each had an RBI for the Rams.
Beloit connected for three homers and totaled 16 hits.
