MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's baseball team battled first-place Illinois College in a Midwest Conference pitchers' duel Sunday afternoon, dropping a 3-2 decision at Ash Park Field.
 
The Blueboys (19-11 overall, 7-4 MWC) plated an unearned run in the top of the seventh, which held up as the difference as they completed a three-game sweep of the Rams (9-17 overall, 2-7 MWC).
 
Cornell stranded 11 baserunners in the contest, offsetting a quality pitching start by senior right-hander Agustin Velazquez. Velazquez limited the Blueboys to four hits over six innings. His lone blemish was a two-out, two-run triple in the fourth inning that put Illinois College ahead 2-0.
 
The Rams cut the deficit to 2-1 on an RBI single by Cade Parks in the fifth. Cornell had a chance for more, although left the bases loaded.
 
Kale Rose scored on a double-play groundout that pulled the Rams within 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Cornell left fielder Vince Zipperer threw out an Illinois College runner at the plate in the ninth, keeping it a one-run game going into the Rams' final at-bat. The Rams got a one-out single from Sean Alvarez before Illinois College closer Connor Akstulewicz came on to retire the final two batters.  
 
Cornell reliever Thomas Hunt was tough over three innings, yielding four hits and the one unearned run.
 
Rose went 1-for-3 with a run and a pair of walks. He reached base safely for the 23rd consecutive game.
 
Illinois College outhit the Rams, 8-5.
 
Coming up – The Rams host rival Coe (21-5) in a rescheduled Bremner Cup game at 5 p.m. Monday in Mount Vernon.