MOUNT VERNON –
Peyton Souhrada only needed to put the ball in play. But Cornell's left-handed slugger went ahead and put it out of the park.
Souhrada's grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning sent the Rams to an 11-7 walk-off win in Game 2 of Saturday's season-opening softball doubleheader with Blackburn at Van Metre Family Softball Field.
Souhrada also homered in Cornell's 9-3 Game 1 victory and finished the day with six RBIs.
The Rams (2-0) needed more than Souhrada's big swing in Game 2, trailing 7-3 going into their final at-bat.
Monet Roelle,
Brianna Risley and
Alexa Corona put Cornell in business with three consecutive singles to open the frame.
Brooke Furman doubled in a run, and after a Blackburn pitching change, sophomore
Elise Oleson doubled home two more to tie the game at 7-7 and still nobody out.
Linnea Drever singled and
Kloi Barney bunted safely to load the bases for Souhrada.
Souhrada deposited a 3-1 pitch over the left-center field wall for the dramatic homer, capping a big eight-run inning. The Rams totaled 13 hits in the game, eight in their last at-bat.
Oleson and
Miranda Keith both had two hits and two RBIs. Corona went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs from the leadoff spot.
Winning pitcher
Hannah Edwards did not allow an earned run over five impressive innings in relief. She struck out five and walked none.
In Game 1, Souhrada got the Rams off and running with a two-run opposite-field homer in the second, helping Cornell to an early 4-0 lead. Souhrada finished the game with two extra-base hits, two RBIs and a pair of runs.
Oleson added a solo homer to left in the sixth to cap Cornell's scoring. Risley went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Corona and Furman also had two hits apiece.
Holly Kremer earned the pitching win, working two scoreless innings in middle relief.
Lexi Ellermeier came on for the final two innings and did not allow a run.
Coming up – The Rams travel to Melbourne, Fla., for the Space Coast Spring Games March 12-14. Cornell opens play March 12 with single games against Marietta (11:15 a.m.) and Wheaton (1:30 p.m.).
