Cornell ran into a hot-hitting Lawrence squad Saturday afternoon, dropping both ends of a Midwest Conference baseball doubleheader – 13-6 and 19-6 – at Ash Park Field.
Cornell outhit the Vikings, 16-10, in Saturday’s opener although couldn’t convert on several scoring chances, leaving 11 runners on base.
Freshman Cade Parks went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs in Game 1, which also saw Kale Rose and Darren Mancke tally three hits apiece. Sean Alvarez delivered two doubles.
Lawrence scored seven times over the final three innings to break it open.
The Rams jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the nightcap, fueled by a six-run second inning. Seth Beals and Alvarez both provided two-RBI hits, followed by a two-run homer from Rose. It was Rose’s team-high fifth round tripper of the season.
Lawrence pitching held the Rams hitless over the final seven innings. The Vikings tied it at 6-6 in the fifth, pulled ahead with three runs in the sixth and then exploded for nine more in the eighth.
The Vikings totaled 15 hits against seven Cornell pitchers.
Earlier in the weekend, the Rams picked up a 13-7 loss to Lawrence.
Trailing 10-1 through 5 1/2 innings, Cornell made a game of it and pulled within 10-7 after scoring four times in the bottom of the seventh, highlighted by Colin Whelan’s two-run double.
Cornell’s comeback stalled when Lawrence struck three times in the ninth that provided the final margin.
Leadoff man Seth Beals paced Cornell’s 11-hit attack, going 3-for-5 with a run for his eighth multi-hit game of the season. Esteban Perez and Vince Zipperer had two hits apiece, including a double. Grant Cwick also doubled and drove in a run.
Right-hander Carson King pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the Rams, striking out four. Cornell left 11 runners on base and gave up four unearned runs.
Cleanup hitter Jacob Charon went 4-for-5 with five RBIs to lead Lawrence, which finished with 11 hits.