GALESBURG, Ill. – Alyssa Pearson (SO/McHenry, Ill.) twirled a two-hit Game 1 shutout and Cailynn Wichman (SR/Crescent, Iowa) totaled six hits in Tuesday's softball doubleheader to guide the Rams to a 9-0, 8-3 nonconference road sweep over Knox.

Cornell stayed perfect on the young season at 4-0, while the Prairie Fire dipped to 0-6.

Senior slugger Darice Wheeler (SR/Evanston, Ill.) set the tone for the day with a two-run homer in the top of the first inning of the opener. That was all the run supported needed for Cornell's left-handed pitcher Pearson, who scattered just a pair of singles in the five-inning contest.

Pearson (2-0), coming off a 14-strikeout outing at Monmouth Saturday, fanned three Prairie Fire batters and walked two. The sophomore helped her cause at the plate with three hits – including a double – and three RBIs.

Wichman went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Zoie Harvey (SO/Urbandale, Iowa) also doubled and drove in a pair.

Game 2 hung in the balance with the score 1-1 through five innings. The Rams broke it open with a five-run sixth frame, highlighted by a two-out, two-run single from Caitlin Babcock (FR/Mount Vernon, Iowa).

Claire Gugerty (SO/Morris, Ill.) punctuated the sweep with a two-run homer in the seventh. She was 2-for-4 with two runs.

Wichman singled, doubled, homered and scored twice. The home run was a solo shot in the top of the first.

Wheeler (2-0) earned the pitching win, yielding three hits and one run. She struck out seven over five innings.

Coming up – The Rams head to Jacksonville, Ill., Sunday for a nonconference doubleheader against Illinois College (9-9). First pitch is 1 p.m.