Carroll rallies late to sweep Rams

WAUKESHA, Wis. - Cornell's baseball team couldn't avoid the big inning Saturday, including an eight-run sixth in the nightcap that carried Carroll to a 5-0, 9-7 sweep over the Rams in nonconference play.

The Rams had Game 2 slip away after leading 7-1 going into the sixth inning. Carroll (3-8) scored eight runs off six hits against four Cornell pitchers in the decisive frame. Cornell sent the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh before grounding into a game-ending double play.

Cornell built a big early lead around a four-run first inning as the Rams' first six batters reached base safely. Andrew Patzke opened the scoring with a bases-loaded walk. Robert Carlson, Craig Furstenau and Charlie Muir delivered RBIs later in the inning to put the Rams ahead 4-0.

The Rams pushed the margin to 6-1 in the second on a run-scoring single from Patzke and a sacrifice fly from Ryan Clausen. Muir scored the team's final run on a passed ball in the third that made the score 7-1.

Patzke gave the Rams a strong start on the mound, allowing just one unearned run and one hit through four innings. The senior right-hander struck out three and walked three before leaving the game after the fourth.

Matt Pfister led Cornell's six-hit attack in Game 2, going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Patzke finished with two RBIs and Zach Rogers went 1-for-3 with two runs scored.

The Rams was limited to three hits in the opener, two coming from No. 2 hitter Jesse Searls. Pfister added a single for Cornell.

Cornell got three scoreless innings from starting pitcher Adam Butler, who surrendered one hit before his work was done. Carroll broke the tie with three runs in the fourth and plated two more in the sixth.

Coming up - The Rams (2-8, 0-3 IIAC) dive back into Iowa Conference play Tuesday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at the University of Dubuque (11-5, 1-4 IIAC). Cornell took two out of three from the Spartans last year in Mount Vernon (11-10, 5-9 and 9-3).

Cornell hosts Loras (7-12, 0-6 IIAC) in a three-game set this weekend. The teams meet for a single nine-inning game at 6 p.m. Friday, April 8, followed by a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 9.