MONMOUTH, Ill. – Darice Wheeler (SR/Evanston, Ill.) blasted two home runs in Game 1 and pitched a 13-strikeout, complete game in the nightcap as the Rams picked up two important Midwest Conference South Division softball wins Saturday at Monmouth, 8-6 and 8-4.

Cornell bumped its season record to 11-5 overall and moved into a second-place tie with Grinnell in the division race at 6-4.

The Rams took all six games from Monmouth this season, the last four counting toward the South standings.

Tied 3-3 in Game 1, Cornell charged ahead to stay with a four-run fifth inning, capped by Wheeler's two-run homer to right-center field. The senior slugger connected for a solo shot in her next at-bat – her fifth clout of the season – that put the Rams ahead 8-3.

Monmouth (4-18 overall, 3-9 MWC) scored three times in the bottom of the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate before sophomore Alyssa Pearson (SO/McHenry, Ill.) finished her complete-game pitching victory.

Pearson allowed seven hits and five earned runs, improving her record to 7-3.

Wheeler finished with four RBIs and two runs scored. Zoie Harvey (SO/Urbandale, Iowa) had a couple hits, including a two-run homer. Marissa Faletti (JR/Oak Forest, Ill.) was 2-for-4 with two runs.

Wheeler was dominant in the pitching circle in Game 2, fanning 13 Monmouth batters while walking just two. She gave up three earned runs, raising her season record to 4-2.

Harvey went deep again in the second game, cranking a two-run homer in the seventh. The sophomore drove in three runs.

Cailynn Wichman (SR/Crescent, Iowa) went 3-for-4 and scored two runs. Erin Puck (SO/Davenport, Iowa) added a pair of hits and stole two bases.

Coming up – The Rams travel to Grinnell Sunday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against the Pioneers (6-4 MWC). The teams split two games on April 24.