Rams trade one-run outcomes with Saint Mary's

MOUNT PLEASANT - Senior outfielder Matt Pfister scored all four of Cornell's runs, including the game-winner off a sacrifice fly from Ryan Nordtvedt in the bottom of the 10th to propel the Rams past Saint Mary's, 4-3, in Game 1 of Saturday's home opener at Ash Park Field.

Two outs from sealing a sweep in Game 2, the Rams were victims of a late Saint Mary's rally and had to settle for a split after a 5-4 loss.

Junior pitchers Charlie Muir and Justin Brown combined to allow just five hits and no earned runs in the 10-inning opener. Muir struck out two and scattered four hits before leaving the game after six innings with the score tied 3-3. Brown (1-1) notched the win, giving up just one harmless single in four shutout innings of relief.

Pfister, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, started Cornell's rally in the 10th with a two-base hit down the left-field line. Zach Rogers was intentionally walked and Ryan Clausen reached safely on a fielder's choice to load the bases with no outs. Nordtvedt then lofted a high fly ball to center field and scored a tagging Pfister from third base with the winning run.

Cornell scored three of its runs on sacrifice flies, two from Nordtvedt and another from Clausen. Clausen, who doubled home the team's other run, and Nordtvedt both finished with two RBIs.

Saint Mary's (3-8) rallied from a late 4-2 deficit in Game 2. The Cardinals scored a run in the sixth and plated two more in the top of the seventh, including a two-out double that put the guests ahead 5-4.

Cornell put the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out single from Jesse Searls. He was quickly erased on a fielder's choice to end the game.

Searls had two hits, highlighted with a two-run single in the fifth. Pfister scored on a wild pitch later in the inning that gave the Rams a 4-2 lead. Milton Kurschner opened the game's scoring with a sacrifice fly in the second.

Senior Andrew Patzke went 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored. Alex Schnebbe and Muir also scored once for the Rams.

Starting right-hander Adam Butler (1-2) gave up five runs on six hits before being relieved by Searls with one out in the seventh.

Coming up - The Rams open Iowa Conference play this weekend with a three-game set at home against Luther. The teams will play a single nine-inning game at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Cornell was picked to finish ninth with 19 votes in the IIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Luther received 34 votes and was projected seventh. The Norse took all three games from Cornell last season in Decorah (4-0, 8-0, 7-6).