MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's baseball team celebrated Senior Day with a convincing 16-5, 9-3 Midwest Conference sweep over Knox on a warm and windy Saturday afternoon at Ash Park.
Winners of six straight games, the Rams (19-15 overall) vaulted into sole possession of fourth place in the league at 10-10. Cornell looks to complete a series sweep over Knox (9-22 overall 4-15 MWC) in Sunday's scheduled single game at noon in Galesburg, Ill.
The Rams pounded out 29 hits in the doubleheader, including 11 for extra bases. Freshman leadoff man
Ryan Weaver set the table for Cornell's potent lineup, going 4-for-7 on the day with five runs and four RBIs.
Right-hander
Jake Schope (2-3), among nine senior players recognized Saturday, recorded his second pitching win in seven days in Game 1. He allowed three earned runs and struck out five over 5.2 innings.
The Rams busted the game open during a seven-run fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from
Seth Beals, his third of the year. Weaver,
Kale Rose,
Vince Zipperer,
Colin Whelan and
Lincoln Greasley all had two hits.
Beals drove in three runs. Weaver and
Sean Alvarez each scored three times.
Cornell overcame an early 3-0 deficit in Game 2, striking six times in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Esteban Perez capped the outburst with a two-run triple. Perez finished with two extra-base hits and three RBIs.
The Rams received two hits apiece from Weaver, Perez, Rose, Zipperer and Greasley.
Cade Parks extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
Winning pitcher
Lucas Brutsche (3-4) was impressive in 4.2 scoreless innings in relief, striking out seven.
Kaleb Whaley worked a perfect ninth to close it out.
