APPLETON, Wis. – Cornell's late-season run ended abruptly Friday afternoon at the Midwest Conference Baseball Tournament.
 
The No. 4 seed Rams dropped a tough 4-3 decision to No. 1 seed and host Lawrence in the opening game at Whiting Field. Cornell was then eliminated from the tournament with a 20-6 loss to No. 2 seed Chicago at Don Hawkins Field.
 
Back in the four-team field for the first time since 2019, the Rams charged into the tournament having won 10 of their last 11 games. They finished 23-18 overall under second-year head coach Robbie Dombrowski.
 
The 23 wins are the third-most in program history.
 
The Rams were perhaps a pitch away from knocking off regular-season champion Lawrence (31-9), leading 3-2 with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Lawrence catcher William Zatkowski grounded a two-strike, two-run single into left field that put the Vikings ahead 4-3 and proved to be the difference.
 
Junior right-hander Vince Tinajero gave the Rams a quality start on the mound, holding the MWC's No. 1 offense to two runs and five hits. He struck out five over seven innings before leaving a 2-2 game.
 
Cornell regained the lead at 3-2 in the top of the eighth on a groundout by Esteban Perez that scored Cade Parks. Sean Alvarez had an RBI single in Cornell's two-run sixth inning.
 
Kale Rose and Parks tallied two hits apiece to pace the Rams. It was Rose's 20th multi-hit game of the season.
 
Lawrence finished with eight hits, including a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh.
 
In Game 2, the Rams fell victim to a 13-run seventh inning by the Maroons (18-23). Cornell trailed 7-6 when Chicago broke it open with 13 runs – all with two outs – and 10 hits in the top of the seventh.
 
Chicago outhit the Rams, 20-11.
 
Alvarez went 3-for-4 with an RBI for Cornell, which led 3-1 going into the fourth. Leadoff man Ryan Weaver singled, doubled, scored two runs and drove in a pair. Parks had two hits and one RBI. Seth Beals scored twice.
 
The Rams used six pitchers in the contest, including four in the final inning.      
 
Elite 20 Award
Prior to Friday's action, Cornell junior outfielder Vince Zipperer was presented the MWC Elite 20 Award for academic excellence.
 
The award recognizes the student-athlete with the highest grade point average among participants in the sport's culminating championship or tournament event.
 
Zipperer, a two-year starter, is pursuing a double major in finance and history. He holds a 3.92 cumulative grade point average.
 
Zipperer is the 12th Ram to receive the MWC Elite 20 Award since its inception in 2015-16. He's Cornell's second baseball honoree, joining two-time winner John Tesensky (2016-17).     
 
MWC Baseball Tournament Schedule
At Appleton, Wis. (Lawrence University)
Friday's results
Game 1 – Lawrence 4, Cornell 3
Game 2 – Beloit 11, Chicago 1 (8 inn.)
Game 3 – Chicago 20, Cornell 6 (7 inn.) (Cornell eliminated)
Game 4, 2:30 p.m. – Lawrence vs. Beloit
 
Saturday's games
Game 5, 9 a.m. – Chicago vs. Game 4 loser (Whiting Field)
Game 6, 12 p.m. – Championship: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner (Whiting Field)
Game 7, 3 p.m. – Second Championship (if necessary)