MOUNT VERNON – Down to its final strike and trailing by two runs, Cornell's softball team found a way to claim its most important win to date with a 5-4 walk-off victory over Monmouth in Game 2 Wednesday at Van Metre Family Softball Field.
 
The Rams delivered three consecutive two-out hits, capped by Brooke Furman's infield single that plated Alexa Corona with the decisive run and completed a pivotal Midwest Conference sweep.
 
Cornell won the opening game, 6-2, behind a combined three-hitter from pitchers Daelynn Rhoades and Lauren Summers.
 
Cornell (19-11 overall, 7-5 MWC) jumped Monmouth (13-21 overall, 6-6 MWC) for fourth place in the conference race with four games to go. The top four teams qualify for the MWC Tournament May 8-9.
 
The Rams extended their series winning streak to eight games over Monmouth, although it wasn't easy trailing 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning in the nightcap.
 
Peyton Souhrada got onboard with a leadoff single, and two outs later, Monet Roelle kept the rally going with a two-strike single into right field that put runners at the corners. Sophomore leadoff batter Corona came through with a clutch two-run triple down the right-field line that knotted the score at 4-4.
 
Furman finished the comeback with a sharp grounder to second baseman Karliegh Ashby, who made a diving stop in the hole. But Furman was able to leg out the off-balanced throw to first as Corona crossed home plate with the game-winner. It was Furman's fifth hit of the doubleheader.
 
Summers (5-3) earned the pitching win, tossing four shutout innings in relief. She allowed just one base runner.
 
Corona, Furman, Roelle and Corrin Kennedy all had two hits for the Rams. Furman stretched her hitting streak to nine games.     
 
In Game 1, reigning MWC Pitcher of the Week Rhoades (6-3) limited the Fighting Scots to two hits and one earned run over five innings while striking out four. Summers closed it out with two scoreless innings.
 
Furman went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs. Kennedy also had three hits – including a double – and drove in two. Souhrada and Elise Oleson added two RBIs apiece.
 
Cornell tallied five hits during a three-run fourth inning to grab a 3-1 lead. The Rams pulled away with three more runs in the fifth.  
 
Coming up – Cornell travels to play American Rivers Conference foe Luther (18-12) Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader in Decorah.