MOUNT VERNON – Cornell pitchers Lexi Ellermeier and Hannah Rhoades ruled the day, holding Lawrence scoreless for 13 innings in Saturday's 8-0, 2-0 Midwest Conference sweep at Van Metre Family Softball Field.
 
The Rams climbed back over the .500 mark for the season at 10-9 and improved to 4-2 in MWC play. Cornell shut down a Lawrence (8-14 overall, 0-4 MWC) lineup that came to town averaging nearly six runs per game.
 
Ellermeier (3-5) recorded her first collegiate shutout in the six-inning opener. The first-year right-hander scattered five singles, struck out five and walked just one. Ellermeier helped her caused at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a triple and a pair of runs.
 
Lilly Dierkes also had two hits, including an RBI single to center field in the bottom of the sixth that ended the game via the mercy rule.
 
The Rams totaled 10 hits, four of which went for extra bases. Miranda Keith was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Katie DelCorso, Caitlin Babcock and Addie Bowman each scored twice.  
 
Rhoades (4-1) was equally impressive in Game 2, notching her third complete-game shutout of the month. The junior surrendered five hits, fanned four and walked one.
 
Cornell scored the lone two runs of the contest in the bottom of the first, with help from two Lawrence errors. Keith delivered a sacrifice fly and Peyton Souhrada drove in the other run on a misplayed grounder.
 
Dierkes and Bowman accounted for Cornell's only two hits, both singles.   
 
The Rams played errorless ball in the field both games.  
   
Coming up – Cornell is back home Sunday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against league foe Ripon.