MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's 17 hits and 11 runs were not enough Friday night as the Rams dropped a 15-11 Midwest Conference baseball slugfest with Monmouth at Ash Park.
 
The teams resume the three-game series Saturday with a noon doubleheader in Monmouth, Ill.
 
The Rams (10-18 overall, 2-8 MWC) belted three home runs, including a mammoth solo shot from Kale Rose on the first pitch he saw in the first inning. It was Rose's 190th career hit and tied Cornell's all-time record.
 
Catcher Esteban Perez continued his sizzling stretch at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and a pair of walks. The senior has now reached base in 11 consecutive plate appearances, a streak that started during Monday's win over 22nd-ranked Coe when he got onboard all six times.
 
Leadoff man Ryan Weaver homered and doubled in his 4-for-6 night. He connected on a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Cade Parks went deep in the first inning and finished 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBIs. Vince Zipperer added three hits and two RBIs for the Rams.
 
The Rams took an 8-7 lead into the seventh inning, but couldn't hold on. Monmouth (11-17 overall, 6-6 MWC) tied it with a run in the seventh, charged ahead with four in the eighth and tacked on three insurance runs in the ninth.
 
Monmouth tallied 10 of its 21 hits over the final three innings. Nathan Reed went 5-for-6 with two doubles to pace the Fighting Scots.