A doubleheader sweep earlier this week in Mount Vernon has positioned the Cornell College Rams baseball team at a chance of claiming their first division championship in 46 years. The Rams hosted the No. 23 Grinnell College Pioneers at Ash Park Thursday in a pivotal Midwest Conference South match up. Cornell won the pair of games in contrasting fashion, taking game one 3-2 in 10 innings while the Rams pounded the Pioneers in game two, 24-3 in seven innings.

A quartet of area alums helped the Rams earn the two victories. Sophomore Walker Breard, a 2012 Washington graduate, slammed a solo home run in the fourth inning to give the Rams a 2-1 lead at that point. Senior Jared Henry kept the Rams alive in game one, taking over the pitching duties in the seventh inning of a 2-2 tie. Henry, a 2012 Washington graduate, allowed no runs and two hits over 2.2 innings before being relieved by Kenny Capesius with one out remaining in the top of the 10th. Arizona native Brandon Davis drove in a two-out single in the bottom of the 10th to help the Rams to victory.

Game two saw Breard go six for six at the plate, tying a school record with seven runs batted in. T.J. Rausch, a 2012 Washington graduate, produced two hits in five plate appearances, driving in a run. Junior Andy Dodson, a 2013 Lone Tree graduate, was the game two starting pitcher, earning the win by throwing five innings, allowing four runs and striking out five batters.

After Cornell’s sweep Thursday, the two teams are now in a tie for first place in the Midwest Conference standings. The final doubleheader of the season pits the Rams versus the Pioneers this afternoon in Grinnell. If the Rams win either of the two games, they will win their first division championship since 1970. The Pioneers need a sweep of the doubleheader to capture their sixth division crown in seven seasons. First pitch of game one is set for 12:30 p.m. at Pioneer Park.