GRINNELL – Cornell's baseball team gave up five first-inning runs and never recovered in Tuesday's 11-1 setback to Midwest Conference in-state rival Grinnell at Pioneer Park.
The Pioneers (21-16 overall, 9-9 MWC) won the series, 2-1, and knocked the Rams (14-22 overall, 6-12 MWC) out of postseason contention with three games to go.
Cornell trailed 8-0 when
Sean Alvarez finally put the Rams on the scoreboard with an RBI single that plated
Jack Rogers in the top of the fifth. Grinnell tacked on one run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to end the game early.
The Rams were held to four hits – all singles by Alvarez, Rogers,
Mason Sellers and
Cade Parks. Parks recorded his 54th hit of the season, second-most in the MWC.
Grinnell accumulated 13 total hits, including six in the first inning as the home team took control early.
Cornell freshman reliever
Logan Gannon struck out six over 5.1 innings in relief. He allowed four runs.
Coming up – The Rams conclude the season with a three-game series against first-place Lawrence (16-16 overall, 10-6 MWC) this weekend in Appleton, Wis. The teams play a noon doubleheader Saturday, followed by a single game Sunday at noon.
