Long ball lifts Rams to record 20th win

Cornell cranked three home runs and established a school record with its 20th softball win Wednesday afternoon, 8-5 over Loras in Game 1 of an Iowa Conference doubleheader at Faber-Clark Field. The Rams dropped the second game, 4-2.

The Rams (20-8 overall, 5-5 IIAC) reached the 20-win mark for the first time in program history. Fifth-year head coach Shanda Ness' squad topped the previous record of 19 wins, set in 2009.

Cornell has a chance to add to that total today in a nonconference home doubleheader at 4 p.m. against Monmouth. The Rams travel to play Simpson Saturday at 2 p.m. in Indianola.

The Rams used the long ball to overcome a 5-2 deficit against Loras (11-18, 5-7 IIAC) in Wednesday's opener. Seniors Carly Goolsby and Nicole Duncan blasted back-to-back solo homers in the fifth inning to pull the Rams to within one run.

Cornell gained the lead for good with a four-run sixth frame. Goolsby tied it on an RBI single and Duncan put the Rams ahead 6-5 on a sacrifice fly. Jill Trzaska capped the rally with a two-run homer to left center with two outs in the sixth.

Trzaska (8-3) hung tough on the mound to earn the complete-game win. She stranded a pair of Loras runners in scoring position in the sixth and retired the Duhawks in order in the seventh. Trzaska matched her season high with eight strikeouts while allowing 10 hits and five walks.

Duncan led Cornell's 14-hit attack, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs, two doubles and the solo home run, her third of the season. Goolsby, Trzaska, Chrissy Rasor and Laurel Wilhelm collected two hits apiece. Trzaska drove in three runs and Goolsby scored three times.

Cornell freshman pitcher Amanda Engel (4-3) was victim to three unearned runs in the Game 2 loss. The Duhawks broke a 2-2 tie with two unearned runs with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Engel struck out four, walked one and allowed six hits over four innings. Jackie Sernek tossed two scoreless innings in relief.

Sam Tonelli scored on a Duhawk fielding error for Cornell's initial run in the second. Freshman Rebekah Ozga belted a solo homer in the third to give the Rams a 2-1 lead. Loras outhit the Rams for the game, 7-6.