APPLETON, Wis. — Jackie Sernek tossed a two-hit shutout to lead Cornell College to a 9-0 victory over Lawrence University on Sunday in the Midwest Conference Tournament championship game at Whiting Field.
It was the first league title for the Rams (23-14), who rejoined the conference for the 2012-13 academic year after a 15-year absence. Lawrence’s second-place finish was its best showing in the conference since since the Vikings (21-15) won the league title in 1999. Lawrence’s 21 wins in 2013 is the most for the Vikings since they won 31 games back in 1999.
Sernek allowed only two singles and struck out seven while walking two to send Cornell to its first NCAA Division III Tournament appearance.
Renata Rankin powered the offense for Cornell as she went 3-for-4 and drove in five runs.
Rankin hit a three-run homer off Kara Vance in the top of the second to put the Rams up 3-0. She then added a two-run double in the fourth to give the Rams a 5-0 lead. Brianna Carney followed with a two-run homer in the fourth, and the Rams led 7-0.
Cornell added a pair of runs on Bekah Ozga’s two-run single in the seventh.
Vance went 3.1 innings and took the loss for the Vikings.