MOUNT VERNON – Cornell kept pace with its Linn County rival halfway through both games Tuesday before No. 23 nationally-ranked Coe pulled away for a 12-4, 6-1 sweep at Van Metre Family Softball Field.
 
The Rams moved to 4-6 on the season, while the rival Kohawks improved to 15-3.
 
Cornell senior outfielder Erin Puck, the Midwest Conference leader in batting average, tallied three hits and a pair of runs in the doubleheader while extending her hitting streak to five games.
 
Puck singled and scored during Cornell's three-run first inning in Game 1, which also saw freshman Peyton Souhrada deliver a two-RBI double that brought the Rams within 4-3 early. Isabel Ihde came around with an unearned run in the bottom of the third, trimming Coe's lead to 5-4.
 
The Kohawks broke the game open in the fourth behind on a two-run double and a two-run homer. Coe ended the opener in six innings, outhitting the Rams 15-6.    
 
Miranda Keith went 2-for-3 with a run. Zoie Harvey added a double.
 
Puck accounted for Cornell's lone hit in Game 2 against Kohawk senior Ellie Thurow, who recorded 10 strikeouts over seven innings. Puck reached on a bunt single to lead off the bottom of the first and eventually scored on a groundout by Claire Gugerty that put the Rams ahead 1-0.
 
Behind starting sophomore pitcher Holly Kremer, the Rams were tied 1-1 through three innings. Coe gained separation with four runs and four hits in the top of the fourth. The Kohawks scored once more in the seventh for the final margin.
 
 Freshman Lily Deckard relieved Kremer in the circle and surrendered only one run over the final 3.2 innings. The Kohawks totaled 12 hits in the nightcap, all of them singles.
 
With the Game 1 victory, Coe now leads the 2022-23 Bremner Cup All-Sports Series, 7-4. Men's tennis is the next head-to-head competition April 5 in Cedar Rapids.
 
Coming up – Cornell continues a 10-game homestand Thursday with a 4 p.m. doubleheader against Simpson (14-4). The Storm edged Cornell, 9-7, on March 12 in Clermont, Fla.