MONMOUTH, Ill. – Cornell's softball team punched its ticket to the Midwest Conference Tournament, and left no doubt about it in Saturday's 13-4, 11-3 sweep over Monmouth.
 
Coach Jackie Yoder's Rams (15-16 overall, 9-5 MWC) secured a spot in next week's four-team tournament at Lake Forest, Ill., for the second year in a row.
 
Cornell stands fourth in the league race with a 1 p.m. home doubleheader remaining Sunday against third-place Illinois College (18-19 overall, 11-3 MWC).   
 
The Rams totaled 26 hits on the day and finished both games in six innings via the mercy rule.
 
Peyton Souhrada socked a three-run homer in Game 1 that game the Rams a 5-3 lead in the third inning. The Rams scored seven times in the sixth, highlighted by two-run hits from Miranda Keith, Brooke Furman and Addie Bowman.
 
Keith, Furman and Bowman collected two hits apiece. Furman and Bowman both had three RBIs from the bottom of Cornell's lineup.
 
Lexi Ellermeier (5-9) went the distance in the pitching circle, allowing seven hits and four runs.
 
Cornell pounded 16 hits in Game 2, led by a 3-for-3 effort from Elise Oleson who also drove in a pair. Bowman singled, doubled and drove in four runs to cap her big day.
 
The Rams also received multi-hit games from Kaylynn Sparks, Monet Roelle and Izzy Gullixon.
 
Winning pitcher Hannah Rhoades (7-3) worked her seventh complete game of the season. She scattered eight hits and struck out five.