Missed chances cost Rams vs. No. 4 Luther

Cornell gave away several scoring chances, stranding nine runners on base in a 2-0 Game 1 loss to fourth-ranked Luther in the Rams' Iowa Conference opener Tuesday night at Mount Vernon Softball Complex.

The Rams fell 9-0 in six innings in the nightcap, moving their record to 11-5 overall and 0-2 in league play.

Cornell outhit the Norse 6-4 in the opening game, but couldn't get the timely hit with runners in scoring position. The Rams left the bases loaded in both the fourth and fifth innings. Luther (18-4, 2-2 IIAC) worked out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs and the heart of the Ram order due to the plate in the bottom of the fifth.

The Norse took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on an unearned run off a sacrifice fly. Luther tacked on an insurance run in the seventh off starter Jill Trzaska (5-2), who struck out five and yielded just four hits against the IIAC preseason co-favorites.

The Rams had six different players record a hit. Freshman leadoff hitter Rebekah Ozga had the team's lone extra-base hit, a double.

Luther took control early in Game 2, plating two runs in each of the first three innings to go ahead 6-0. The Norse ended the game with a three-run sixth frame. Luther totaled 12 hits and scored five unearned runs with help from three Ram errors.

Freshman Amanda Engel (4-1) was dealt her first loss in the circle, allowing eight hits and six runs - three earned - over four innings. Jackie Sernek gave up one earned run in relief.

Brooke Griffin went 1-for-2 with a double. Ozga and Trzaska both had a single for Cornell's lone other hits. Senior Carly Goolsby finished 0-for-3, halting her impressive hitting streak at 18 games.

The Rams resume their 10-game homestand Friday, April 8 with a nonconference doubleheader at 4 p.m. against St. Ambrose. Cornell hosts IIAC foe Dubuque at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9.