JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Cornell wrapped up a successful softball season on Day 2 of the Midwest Conference Tournament at Illinois College's Kamp Field.
The No. 4 seed Rams fell 8-1 to No. 2 seed Lake Forest in an elimination game Saturday afternoon and finished the weekend 1-2.
Illinois College defeated Lake Forest in the championship, 9-1 in five innings, to earn the MWC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Cornell bowed out with a 24-18 season record under first-year head coach
Robin Brand, who guided the Rams to their first 20-win season since 2019. The 24 victories are the fifth-most by a Cornell team.
Junior slugger
Corrin Kennedy capped an outstanding tournament with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate against the Foresters (24-13). She accounted for Cornell's lone run, a homer with two outs in the top of the third. It was her seventh round-tripper of the spring.
Kennedy batted .636 (7-for-11) with three doubles, two homers and five RBIs in the three tournament games.
The Rams stayed within striking distance at 3-1 until Lake Forest broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning. Cornell was held to six hits and gave away two unearned runs.
Senior
Daelynn Rhoades (6-5) tossed 5.1 innings in her final collegiate start for the Rams.
Tournament 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 – Illinois College 3, Lake Forest 2
Game 5 – Lake Forest 8, Cornell 1
Game 6 – Championship: Illinois College 9, Lake Forest 1 (5 inn.)
