THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cornell's baseball team showed flashes against No. 28 nationally-ranked Cal Lutheran, although dropped both ends of Saturday's doubleheader, 4-3 and 11-6.
The Rams (3-4) came up short in all three games of the series against the 10-2 Kingsmen, a 2024 NCAA regional qualifier.
Cornell had its chance in Saturday's opener, taking a lead into the ninth inning. Catcher
Esteban Perez belted a game-tying two-run homer in the top of the eighth, followed by an RBI single by
Mason Sellers that put the Rams ahead 3-2.
Cal Lutheran rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth, plating the game-winner on a sacrifice fly to center field.
Cornell outhit the home team, 10-9. The Rams received two hits apiece from
Sean Alvarez,
Vince Zipperer and Perez. Alvarez and Perez both had a double.
Junior
Thomas Hunt gave Cornell a quality start on the mound, firing five scoreless innings of five-hit ball.
In Game 2, Cornell fell behind 8-1 but climbed back in it with a five-run fifth inning.
Joseph Lomeli delivered a two-run hit as the Rams cut the deficit to 8-6. Cornell was shut down the rest of the way.
Perez,
Sean Alvarez,
Brendan Alvarez and
Collin Severson each had one RBI for the Rams, who were outhit 12-6.
Coming up – The Rams continue their West Coast trip Monday with a single game against Whittier at 4 p.m. (Central time) in Whittier, Calif.
