Softball News Releases
Rams fall twice in late innings at Nebraska Wesleyan
MOUNT VERNON – Cornell’s softball team fell victim to a pair of late-inning rallies in a 12-6, 6-4 doubleheader loss to Nebraska Wesleyan March 22 in Lincoln, Neb. The Rams had their four-game winning streak snapped and evened their overall record to 6-6 this spring.
Nebraska Wesleyan (5-1) broke open a 5-5 tie in the opening game with a seven-run fifth inning. Cornell took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth of the nightcap when the hosts struck for five runs.
Freshman leadoff hitter Laurel Wilhelm (Blairstown/Benton) went 4-for-7 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBIs to pace the Rams in the doubleheader. Nicole Duncan (Wilton/Wilton) and Jessica Mauser (Westminster, Colo./Standley Lake) each had three hits on the day.
In the opener, the Rams went ahead 5-4 behind a five-run fourth inning. Sara Blaser (Davenport/North) blasted a three-run home run, followed by RBI singles by Brittany Raymond (Garwin/GMG) and Wilhelm. Cornell added its final run in the sixth on a single by Wilhelm.
Wilhelm, Duncan, Mauser and Raymond each had two hits in the opener. Kimberly Traylor (Lee’s Summit, Mo./North) was the dealt the loss on the mound, working 3 1/3 innings in relief of Ashton Horn (Davenport/West).
Duncan’s three-run homer gave the Rams a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the second game. Lisa Anderson (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart Griffin) tripled home a run in the fifth to push the Rams’ lead to 4-1. Nebraska Wesleyan came back to score five runs – four unearned – in the bottom of the fifth.
Wilhelm and Anderson each went 2-for-3 in the nightcap. Wilhelm also scored twice. Horn (6-4) suffered the loss despite allowing only two earned runs over six innings. She gave up nine hits, struck out three and walked one.
The Rams committed four errors and were outhit 26-17 in the two games.
The Rams are scheduled to play 14 games in 10 days, starting Thursday, March 27 with a doubleheader at UW-Platteville. Cornell opens Iowa Conference play Saturday, March 29 against Buena Vista in its home opener.
Coming up – Thursday, March 27, UW-Platteville, Platteville, Wis., 3 p.m.; Saturday, March 29, Buena Vista, Mount Vernon, 2 p.m.; Sunday, March 30, at Ashford, Clinton, 1 p.m.; Monday, March 31, at Monmouth, Monmouth, Ill.; Wednesday, April 2, at Luther, Decorah, 3 p.m.; Thursday, Knox, Mount Vernon, 3 p.m.
Rams in the rankings – Cornell leads the IIAC with 25 doubles and ranks fourth with a .296 team batting average.
Blaser is tied for the league lead in both RBIs (15) and doubles (5). Horn ranks first in innings pitched (66.0) and fifth in strikeouts (43). Wilhelm is sixth in stolen bases (5) and Duncan is ninth in slugging percentage (.564).