RICHMOND, Va. — A six-run seventh inning for VCU broke open a 3-3 tie to lift the host Rams to a 9-3 win over the Cornell baseball team, solidifying a three-game sweep of the Big Red at The Diamond on Sunday afternoon.

Cooper Benzin and Brandon Eike each had two-hit days, while Jake Thilges and Nic Ericsson continued their torrid weekends by driving in a pair of runs in the six-run inning for VCU (6-10).

Mason Delane was the winning pitcher for the Rams as the right-hander logged the final three innings of work, allowing four hits and walking one and fanning four.

Freshman Zachary Peters had a strong outing for VCU, allowing two unearned runs on three hits while issuing three walks and striking out five.

VCU opened the game with a three-run second inning against Cornell's starting pitcher Von Baker.

Ethan Brooks drove in the first run with an RBI single before a passed ball and an RBI groundout allowed a pair of Rams baserunners to cross home plate.

Baker pitched the first four innings for Cornell, scattering three runs (one earned) on three hits, walking two and striking out four. He also threw one wild pitch and hit three VCU batters.

Left-hander Spencer Edwards was the losing pitcher of record for Cornell (0-9), after giving up five of the six runs in the seventh. Edwards shined earlier in his outing, retiring six of the first seven batters he faced – striking out four of the batters.

In the top-half of the fourth, senior outfielder Sam Kaplan scored all the way from first base after a VCU throwing error. Sophomore Kyle Musser benefited from the error, reaching third base on the play. He later scored on an RBI groundout by junior infielder Matt Barnhorst.

Cornell tied the game, 3-3, in the seventh on an RBI double by sophomore infielder Ryan Porter that scored Musser, who led the inning off with a single.

VCU's six-run inning began when Logan Amiss drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk. Thilges, the next batter, singled home two runs with a base hit up the middle before Ericsson plated two more runs with a double to center field. A wild pitch and a throwing error to get the runner advancing 90 feet allowed the Rams' final run of the frame to score.

Game Notes

• Cornell and VCU met for the seventh time on Sunday. The Rams remain unbeaten against the Big Red, posting a 7-0 record.

• The Big Red had all seven of its hits on the day come from different players.

• As a pitching staff, Cornell registered a season-high 11 strikeouts on Sunday. It is the most punchouts by a Big Red pitching staff in a single game since the opener of a April 16, 2022 doubleheader at Penn, when it also posted 11 strikeouts.

• Senior outfielder Elijah Diaz made his season debut on Sunday, recording a two-out, pinch-hit infield single in the ninth inning.

Looking Ahead

Cornell will return to the Commonwealth of Virginia next weekend for a three-game series against George Mason in a final tune-up before Ivy League play begins.

The series will begin on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Game action from Fairfax, Va., will be broadcast on ESPN+.