EUREKA, Ill. – Riding a five-game winning streak, Cornell's softball team came up one run short on both ends of Thursday's nonconference doubleheader with Eureka, 4-3 and 6-5, at Sweitzer Field.
 
Reigning Midwest Conference Performer of the Week Peyton Souhrada enjoyed another impressive day at the plate, going 4-for-7 with a double and a triple. The first-year outfielder now has 14 hits over a sizzling five-game stretch.
 
The Rams (9-13) dropped the opener on an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning, spoiling a strong 12-strikeout complete-game outing from first-year pitcher Daelynn Rhoades. Eureka (7-17-1) led off the seventh with back-to-back bunt singles and plated the winning run on a throwing error.
 
Cornell took a 3-1 lead into the fifth. Rhoades allowed eight total hits and walked two, moving her season record to 6-4.
 
Souhrada and Monet Roelle had two hits apiece to lead the Rams. Caitlin Babcock added an RBI.
 
The Rams outhit the home team, 8-6, in the second game, although yielded two unearned runs that proved to be the difference.
 
Roelle connected for her first collegiate home run, a three-run shot in the top of the first to push the Rams ahead early. Babcock and Izzy Gullixon delivered RBIs in the fifth and sixth frames, respectively, to bring Cornell within 6-5.
 
The Rams stranded two runners in scoring position to end the sixth and went down in order in the seventh.
 
Cornell received two hits apiece from Souhrada, Claire Gugerty and Gullixon. Erin Puck and Souhrada both had a triple.
 
Starting pitcher Alyssa Pearson (2-8) gave up six hits and four earned runs over six innings. She fanned four.
 
Coming up – Cornell looks to build on its 4-0 Midwest Conference mark Friday with a 6 p.m. doubleheader against Beloit (8-14 overall, 0-4 MWC) at Van Metre Family Softball Field.