MOUNT VERNON – Cornell starter Lucas Brutsche pitched into the ninth inning as the Rams clinched a series win over defending Midwest Conference champion Lawrence with Sunday's 7-2 baseball victory at Ash Park Field.
 
After splitting Saturday's doubleheader, the Rams (10-9 overall, 2-1 MWC) secured their first series win over Lawrence since rejoining the MWC in 2013. The Vikings (5-15 overall, 1-2 MWC) had beaten Cornell eight straight times prior to this three-game set.  
 
Brutsche (3-1) scattered seven hits and yielded only one earned run over 8.1 efficient innings. The junior right-hander struck out two, walked two and induced 13 groundouts, highlighted by a pair of double plays.
 
Brutsche was removed with one out and two runners on in the ninth with the Rams leading 7-1. Thomas Hunt recorded the final two outs in relief.
 
Senior Garrett Roehl had five hits in the series, including a three-run double in the bottom of the second Sunday that pushed the Rams ahead 4-1. He went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and reached base four times.
 
Jimmy Moltini had an RBI single in the fourth. Landon Moore delivered a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Jamison Martine drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth to complete Cornell's scoring.
 
Moltini finished with two hits. Jackson Simmons had a double.
 
Coming up – The Rams carry momentum into a three-game series with Knox (2-17 overall, 0-3 MWC) April 3-4. The teams play a single game at 5 p.m. Friday in Mount Vernon, followed by a 12 p.m. doubleheader Saturday in Galesburg, Ill.