MONMOUTH, Ill. – Cornell senior right-hander Nate Pacetti enjoyed a career afternoon on the mound Saturday, carrying the Rams to a 7-1 Game 1 win over Monmouth in Midwest Conference baseball action at Glasgow Field.
 
The Rams mounted a late rally to tie Game 2, but fell 8-6 on a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning.   
 
Cornell (13-16 overall, 5-8 MWC) hosts Monmouth (11-18 overall, 7-7 MWC) in the rubber game of the series at 1 p.m. Sunday at Ash Park Field.
 
Pacetti (3-3) mowed down Monmouth's Game 1 lineup with a career-high 10 strikeouts while recording the first nine-inning complete game by a Ram in two years. He scattered six hits, walked one and did not allow an earned run in the 122-pitch outing.
 
Pacetti won his second consecutive start and helped the Rams overcome five errors in the field.
 
Catcher Seth Lopez collected two of Cornell's seven hits and Thomas Hunt clubbed a solo home run, his third of the season. The Rams broke the game open during a four-run seventh, keyed by Jasper Hancox's two-RBI single.  
 
Seven different Rams scored a run. Luke Hull and Garrett Roehl both doubled.
 
The Rams were thinking sweep in the late innings of Game 2, scoring twice in the seventh and plating three more runs in the top of the ninth. Landon Moore's sacrifice fly brought home Roehl to tie it at 6-6.
 
Monmouth spoiled Cornell's comeback bid in its final at-bat. The Fighting Scots got the leadoff batter on base and then Jace Wilkerson walked it off with the winning homer to right field.
 
Caleb Smith went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs to lead Cornell's lineup, which left 12 runners on base. Roehl had two hits and three RBIs. Hunt went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to seven games.  
 
Cornell starter Lucas Brutsche gave up six runs over six innings, striking out five. Brady Newtson retired all six batters he faced in middle relief.