The Mt Vernon Rams battled state ranked Effingham but came up short 5-4.
Cale Maurer went 2-3 with an RBI, Grant Holloway had 2 hits and Bronx Hefner assed an RBI and run scored.
Maurer struck out 8 in his 3 innings of work and Nowak added 3 innings of shutout ball.
The Rams are 3-4.
