MOUNT VERNON – Cornell ran into a hot-hitting Lawrence squad Saturday afternoon, dropping both ends of a Midwest Conference baseball doubleheader – 13-6 and 19-6 – at Ash Park Field.
The Vikings (14-6 overall) also prevailed in Friday's game in Mount Vernon, 13-7, and remained atop the MWC standings at 6-0. Lawrence connected for seven home runs Saturday against the Rams (9-9 overall, 1-5 MWC).
Cornell outhit the Vikings, 16-10, in Saturday's opener although couldn't convert on several scoring chances, leaving 11 runners on base.
Freshman
Cade Parks went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs in Game 1, which also saw
Kale Rose and
Darren Mancke tally three hits apiece.
Sean Alvarez delivered two doubles.
Lawrence scored seven times over the final three innings to break it open.
The Rams jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the nightcap, fueled by a six-run second inning.
Seth Beals and Alvarez both provided two-RBI hits, followed by a two-run homer from Rose. It was Rose's team-high fifth round tripper of the season.
Lawrence pitching held the Rams hitless over the final seven innings. The Vikings tied it at 6-6 in the fifth, pulled ahead with three runs in the sixth and then exploded for nine more in the eighth.
The Vikings totaled 15 hits against seven Cornell pitchers.
Coming up – Cornell travels to play in-state rival Grinnell (9-10 overall, 2-1 MWC) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday.
