PELLA – Cornell's potent batting lineup was held in check against Central in Thursday's nonconference doubleheader between 20-win softball teams.
The Rams (22-15) fell 10-2 in five innings, and then lost 8-0 in six to the host Dutch (28-10), who have been nationally-ranked most of the season.
Corrin Kennedy went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs to lead the Rams in the opener. The No. 3 hitter singled home
Alexa Corona in the first inning and plated
Ella Cooper with an RBI hit in the third that brought Cornell within 3-2.
Central pulled away with a five-run fourth frame. The Dutch limited Cornell to five hits -- including a double by
Brianna Risley – and took advantage of five unearned runs.
In Game 2, senior
Peyton Souhrada passed Kari Martin (2012-15) for No. 3 on Cornell's career hits list with a double in the fourth. It was Souhrada's 167th hit in her 143rd game as a Ram.
Risley had Cornell's lone other hit in the contest, a single.
The Dutch totaled 12 hits, five for extra bases.
Coming up – The fourth-place Rams (9-5 MWC) play host to second-place Ripon (9-3 MWC) in Sunday's regular-season finale at Van Metre Family Softball Field. The doubleheader starts at 1 p.m.
Cornell can clinch an MWC Tournament berth with one Monmouth loss Friday against Illinois College OR one win against Ripon Sunday.
