TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University baseball team had potential tying runs on deck in the seventh and the ninth innings but came up short in the rubber match vs. Cornell 8-5.
 
Towson (6-14) had the bases loaded in the seventh down four to Cornell (5-6) with two outs, but a fly out stranded three.  The Tigers in the ninth, down three, had the potential tying run on deck, but a ground out ended the final chance.
 
Key Stats

• Towson had nine hits and drew 10 walks but stranded 13 runners on base.
• Brian Heckelman reached base four times, going 3-for-3 with a walk, sacrifice fly and two RBI.  Jordan Peyton hit a solo home run, finishing 1-for-4 with a sacrifice fly.
• Towson starting pitcher Dutch DeProspero (1-2) got the loss, having four runs allowed in four-and-two-thirds.
• As a team, Cornell hit three home runs, including one from Ryan Porter, who hit 3-for-5.  Starter Chris Ellison was a no-decision, going four innings with two runs and two strikeouts.  The next reliever, Sam Keene (1-0), picked up the victory with 2.1 innings, one run and three strikeouts.  John Hegarty had a save, throwing the last 2.1 innings with two runs and a pair of strikeouts.

How it Happened

• Cornell got on the board first in the top of the second as Jakobi Davis belted a full count pitch over the right field wall for a 1-0 lead. 
• In the fourth, the Big Red kept hitting the ball far with two home runs, a solo shot from Ryan Porter and a two-run home run to center from John Quinlan, to lead 4-0. 
• Jordan Peyton started the comeback attempt in the bottom of the fifth, drilling the first pitch of the half-inning over the left field fence for a home run.  Towson continued, getting second and third with one out.  Brian Heckelman was robbed of a base hit by a diving catch by Jakobi Davis in center field, but the sacrifice fly brought in Nick Francuzenko to make it 4-2 Cornell. 
• The seventh inning saw Cornell gets the bases loaded on two walks and a single, bringing in a run on a hit-by-pitch.  Kyle Emmons nearly got out of the inning with two strikeouts, but Caden Wildman took a first pitch into right center for a two-run single as Cornell led 7-2. 
• Towson got a run back in the bottom of the seventh as the home team got two on with one out.  Heckelman grounded a single to left to bring in a run and pull Towson within four. 
• Cornell took advantage of two errors in the top of the eighth for a run.  Towson got that run back in the bottom half of the inning after Cole Stefano doubled and took third on a fielding error, then scored on a sacrifice fly to put the score at 8-4 Cornell. 
• Towson looked for a last gasp in the bottom of the ninth, putting runners on the corners with one out.  Ethan Brand hit a deep fly to left which was run down by the left fielder, resulting in a sacrifice fly.  A following ground out ended the game as Cornell held 8-5.

Inside the Numbers

• Jordan Peyton is on a four-game hitting streak and has hit safely in seven of his last eight games.
• Towson drew 10 walks, the second-most for the Tigers in game this season.  Towson had 13 walks in the second game vs. UMES on Feb. 22.

Next Game

• Towson has a mid-week matchup at George Mason on Tuesday, Mar. 18 at 3 p.m.