KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Melissa Orton (JR/Downers Grove, Ill.)'s two-run homer was all the offense Cornell needed in Friday's 4-1 season-opening softball win over Defiance at Osceola County Complex.

The Rams dropped an 8-6 decision to Montclair State in the second game.

Cornell's Haley Harmon (SO/Becker, Minn.) tossed a complete-game three-hitter in the opener. After yielding an early run, the sophomore blanked the Yellow Jackets (3-6) on just two hits over the final six innings. Harmon finished with seven strikeouts.

Orton unlocked a 1-1 tie with a two-run blast to left in the bottom of the third. The Rams (1-1) tallied an insurance run in the seventh, getting a leadoff double from Stephanie Xavier (JR/Aurora, Colo.) who scored on a Kendra Christensen (SR/Lakewood, Colo.) hit.

Cornell totaled 10 hits in the game, including two apiece from Xavier, Christensen and Melissa Griffin (SR/Oswego, Ill.). Christensen and Sarah Schimanski (JR/Shorewood, Ill.) each provided an RBI. Xavier scored two runs.

The Rams outhit Montclair State, 10-8, in Game 2, but couldn't overcome four errors in the field. Trailing 5-1 early, Cornell rallied in the fourth and tied it at 6-6 on Christensen's two-out RBI single.

Montclair State pulled ahead with a run in the top of the fifth, and added another in the seventh.

Christensen paced the Ram lineup, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Newcomers Carly Robison and Tirzah Sisneros (FR/Thornton, Colo.) each had two hits apiece, including a double. Sisneros and Cody Stockert (SR/Colorado Springs, Colo.) both scored twice.

The Red Hawks (5-5) plated six runs – only two earned – against Ram starter Jesse Applehans (SR/Highlands Ranch, Colo.), who logged 2.1 innings.

Coming up – Cornell continues spring-break action Saturday with single games against Skidmore (8 a.m., Iowa time) and St. Joseph's (12:30 p.m.).