MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's new-look baseball team showed flashes on opening day, rolling to a 12-2 Game 1 victory before having a lead slip away in a 14-7 nightcap loss on a sunny Saturday against Central at Ash Park Field.
 
The Rams (1-1) had six newcomers play a hand in the opening win, highlighted by an impressive start from right-hander Lucas Brutsche who limited the Dutch (2-3) to one run and four hits through 5.2 innings. The freshman struck out six.  
 
Cornell's talented lineup accumulated 15 hits in the seven-inning opener, six coming in the first inning as the Rams set the tone early. The Rams built an 8-0 lead through three innings.
 
Junior transfer Sean Alvarez went 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs. Kale Rose was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, scoring four times and driving in two.
 
Newcomers Esteban Perez and Cade Parks joined Alec Boldt with two hits apiece. Perez had three RBIs.
 
The Rams were seemingly in control of Game 2, leading 6-1 through three innings and 6-2 going into the seventh. Central rallied for 12 runs in the final three innings to salvage the split.
 
Cornell outhit the Dutch, 16-8, although allowed eight walks and had two errors that resulted in six unearned runs.
 
Boldt went 3-for-4 to lead Cornell's attack. Ryan Skala doubled and drove in three runs. Seth Beals, Darren Mancke, Vince Tinajero and Vince Zipperer collected two hits apiece.
 
Cornell starting pitcher Jake Schope allowed four hits and struck out seven over 6.1 innings. The senior retired 13 consecutive batters during one stretch.
 
Coming up – The Rams and Dutch will square off in the rubber game of the series at 1 p.m. Sunday in Mount Vernon.