GRINNELL – Cornell generated 24 hits in Saturday's softball doubleheader, although fell victim to an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth in Game 2 and left Grinnell with a Midwest Conference South Division split.

The Rams rolled 11-3 in the six-inning opening game. Grinnell prevailed 6-5 in the nightcap.

The Rams (9-3 overall, 4-2 MWC) remained in second place in the South race, one game back in the loss column to Sunday's opponent Illinois College (7-1 MWC).  

Cornell sophomore Alyssa Pearson (SO/McHenry, Ill.) tossed six strong innings of three-hit ball in Game 1. The left-hander (6-2) struck out three and did not allow an earned run.

The Rams struck for five runs in the top of the third and broke it open with six more in the sixth.

Leadoff batter Marissa Faletti (JR/Oak Forest, Ill.) went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Zoie Harvey (SO/Urbandale, Iowa) collected two hits, two runs and three RBIs. Claire Gugerty (SO/Morris, Ill.) also had two hits.

Darice Wheeler (SR/Evanston, Ill.) and Harvey both homered for the Rams in the back-and-forth Game 2 battle that saw the teams combine for 26 hits.

The Rams went ahead 5-4 in the top of the eighth on Harvey's clutch two-out single that scored Julissa Rivera (FR/Houston, Texas). Grinnell answered with a two-out RBI hit in the bottom of the frame, extending the game to the ninth.

After Cornell stranded a runner at second in the top of the ninth, Grinnell capitalized on a two-out error in the bottom of the inning. The Pioneers won the game on a deep hit to the left-center field gap.

Harvey and Gugerty both went 3-for-4, with Harvey driving in three runs. Erin Puck (SO/Davenport, Iowa) and Mary Puffett (FR/Independence, Iowa) also had multi-hit games for the Rams.

Pearson took the pitching loss, allowing one earned run in 2.2 innings of relief.

Coming up – Cornell has a quick turnaround Sunday, traveling to South Division leader Illinois College for a 1 p.m. doubleheader in Jacksonville, Ill.