JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Darice Wheeler (SR/Evanston, Ill.) fired six shutout innings and clubbed three hits at the plate to help the Rams salvage a softball split against Illinois College with a 5-0 Game 2 victory Sunday at Jessica Kamp Field.  

The Lady Blues (10-10) edged the Rams (5-1) by a 2-1 score in a Game 1 pitcher's duel.

Wheeler took matters into her own hands in the nightcap, singling home the game's first two runs in the bottom of the third. She finished 3-for-3 with a double, a run and two RBIs. Wheeler extended her hitting streak to six games.

Wheeler boosted her pitching record to 3-0, holding the Lady Blues scoreless through six innings. The hard-throwing senior left-hander struck out eight, walked three and yielded six hits. Jessica Self (SO/Moravia, Iowa) pitched the seventh to complete the combined shutout.

Catcher Claire Gugerty (SO/Morris, Ill.) belted a two-run homer for the Rams in Game 2, her second of the season. Chardaye Beltran (FR/Simi Valley, Calif.) had one hit and scored twice. The Lady Blues left 11 runners on base.

Cornell sophomore pitcher Alyssa Pearson (SO/McHenry, Ill.) turned in a strong complete-game outing in the opener. The lefty struck out seven and walked just one.

Illinois College broke a 1-1 tie on a one-out single to left in the top of the sixth. Sydney Hood went the distance in the circle for the Lady Blues, giving up just three hits and striking out 10.

Zoie Harvey (SO/Urbandale, Iowa) singled home Wheeler for Cornell's lone run in the bottom of the fourth.   

Wheeler added a double and Caitlin Babcock (FR/Mount Vernon, Iowa) a single for Cornell's other two hits in the game.

Coming up – Cornell begins its 16-game MWC South Division schedule Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Monmouth (0-8).