JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Cornell's softball team survived a wet and wild finish to Friday's elimination game in the Midwest Conference Tournament, pulling out an 8-7 victory over Ripon at rain-soaked Kamp Field.
The No. 4 seed Rams (24-17) dropped a tough 6-5 first-round battle with top-seeded Illinois College, which won with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Cornell advances to Day 2 for a second elimination game at 12 p.m. Saturday. Cornell will face the loser of the Lake Forest (23-12)/Illinois College (31-10) game, which has been moved to 10 a.m. Saturday.
The Rams will need to win three games Saturday to claim the MWC title and earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
The Rams appeared on their way to a convincing shutout win over Ripon (25-13), taking an 8-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh. The Red Hawks charged back with seven runs – all with two outs – and had runners on second and third when Cornell finally ended the threat on a groundout to second baseman
Brianna Risley.
Cornell starter
Lexi Ellermeier (11-8) notched the pitching win, allowing nine hits and four earned runs over seven innings. The junior was relieved with the Rams ahead 8-6 and two outs in the bottom of the seventh. One batter later, Ellermeier returned to the pitching circle and finished the job.
Elise Oleson led Cornell's 10-hit attack, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Her solo homer in the fifth put the Rams ahead 4-0.
Risley belted a two-run homer in the seventh that stretched the margin to 8-0.
Corrin Kennedy and
Linnea Drever added two hits apiece for Cornell. Kennedy scored twice.
Earlier on Friday, the Rams were within one out from pulling an upset of Illinois College. The Lady Blues scored three unearned runs in their final at-bat to escape.
Trailing 3-2, Cornell rallied for three runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to extend the contest.
Lauren Summers scored on a Lady Blues error and
Brooke Furman delivered a go-ahead double that plated
Alexa Corona.
Kennedy brought home Furman with a double that pushed the Rams ahead 5-3. It was the third extra-base hit of the game for Kennedy, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs.
The Lady Blues mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh with help from a Cornell error. Illinois College cut the deficit to 5-4 on a one-out triple. Then with two outs and two runners on, the Lady Blues delivered a two-RBI single over shortstop Furman for the walk-off win.
Starting pitcher
Daelynn Rhoades gave the Rams a strong outing, yielding two earned runs with a season-high eight strikeouts in 6.1 innings. Ellermeier (10-8) gave up one unearned run in relief.
The Rams tallied seven hits against Illinois College ace Jordan Closs. Furman went 2-for-4 with two runs. Kennedy connected for her sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot in the third.
Tournament Schedule & Results
At Jacksonville, Ill. (Kamp Softball Field)
Friday, May 8
Game 1 – #2 Lake Forest 6, #3 Ripon 4
Game 2 – #1 Illinois College 6, #4 Cornell 5
Game 3 – Cornell 8, Ripon 7
Saturday, May 9
Game 4, 10 a.m. – Illinois College vs. Lake Forest
Game 5, 12 p.m. – Cornell vs. Game 4 loser
Game 6, 2 p.m. – Championship: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner
Game 7, 4 p.m. – Second Championship (if necessary)
