MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's baseball team chipped away at an early 9-2 deficit and had the tying run on deck in the bottom of the ninth inning before Beloit held on, 13-10, in Sunday's regular season finale at Ash Park Field.
As they had all season, Coach
Robbie Dombrowski's Rams battled to the final out and wound up just short of qualifying for next week's four-team Midwest Conference Tournament. The Rams finished 17-21 overall and tied for fifth place in the league race at 9-12.
Picked seventh in the MWC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Rams exceeded expectations in part to the emergence of
Jackson Hill,
Thomas Hunt,
Nate Pacetti,
Garrett Roehl and
Jackson Simmons who were honored on their Senior Day prior to first pitch.
Cornell and third-place Beloit (23-16 overall, 15-6 MWC) combined for six home runs on the wind-blown day, two of which came from the Rams in their final at-bat.
Trailing 13-6 with two outs in the ninth,
Caleb Smith started Cornell's comeback attempt with a solo homer to right. Following back-to-back singles by Roehl and
Jimmy Moltini, junior first baseman
Jamison Martine cracked a three-run homer over the center-field wall.
Simmons then reached on a hit, prompting Beloit to call upon its fifth pitcher of the game. The Buccaneers induced a flyout to center field to end the game.
Luke Hull, Moltini and Hunt all went 2-for-5 with two RBIs to lead Cornell's 12-hit attack. Smith also had two hits. Moltini belted a two-run homer in the fifth.
Hunt gave the Rams six quality innings in long relief, allowing three earned runs while striking out six.
The Buccaneers totaled 16 hits, highlighted by a 4-for-6 effort from leadoff man Jack Alport.
