Game 1 Box Score (Cornell 4, Howard 2)
Game 2 Box Score (Albany 3, Cornell 2 - 10 innings)

FAIRFAX, Va. -- The Cornell softball team got a pair of outstanding efforts in the pitcher's circle, splitting a Friday doubleheader at the Mason Cherry Blossom Classic at GMU Softball Complex, knocking off Howard 4-2 in game one before dropping a 3-2 contest to Albany in 10 innings in game two.

Ali Tomlinson picked up the win in game one, while Dalrymple took her third hard-luck loss of the year, allowing no earned runs in an 11-strikeout effort in game two.

Cornell was able to snap its three-game losing streak in the opening game of the day, topping Howard 4-2 behind an excellent outing by Tomlinson. The senior struck out a season high six without issuing a walk, scattering four hits in the complete game win. Tomlinson retired the last 12 hitters of the game to pick up her second win of the season.

Marissa Amiraian was 2-for-4, while Lauren Bucolo was 2-for-2 with a walk. The big hit was a two-run double by Erin Keene in the bottom of the first to put the Big Red ahead, while Cornell scrapped together runs in the second and fifth en route to the win.

The three-game skid was the longest since dropping four straight and six of seven contests during a five-day span last March. Cornell responded by going 26-6 the rest of the regular season en route to an Ivy League title and an NCAA appearance.

Kristen Towne blasted her third home run of the young season in the top of the fourth in game two against Albany, but a pair of errors in the bottom of the seventh inning on the same play forced the contest into extra innings.

Cornell was able to load the bases and scored with two outs on a wild pitch in the eighth, as Jenny Edwards raced home after being hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. A pair of singles in the bottom of the frame tied the game again for Albany, this time at 2-2 to send the game into the ninth inning.

The Big Red made a huge defensive play in the ninth to keep the game alive. With one out and runners at second and third, Andrianna Walraven popped a ball up to center. Amiraian threw Melissa Herndon out at the plate with Towne applying the tag to keep the Big Red alive.

It was to be short lived. After failing to score after putting runners on second and third with no one out in the 10th, Albany used a little two-out magic to win the game on a walk-off single by Lauren Alcorn, giving the Great Danes a 3-2 victory.

Towne ended the day with two of the team's seven hits. Dalrymple posted her 15th career game of at least 10 strikeouts after ending her night with 11 and didn't allow an earned run in 9.2 innings of work.