ITHACA, N.Y. -- Freshman Kim Dolhon hit home runs in both ends of a doubleheader and the Big Red pitching staff had its best day of the year to help Cornell softball to a doubleheader sweep of America East leader Albany on Wednesday evening at Niemand*Robison Field. Cornell won game one 6-3, then used an explosive 11-run second inning to claim a 14-2, five-inning mercy rule win in game two. The Big Red snapped a seven-game skid in improving to 6-20, while Albany had its eight-game win streak snapped in falling to 21-10.

Cornell surrendered just three earned runs in the two games and pounded out 25 hits in the two contests, including four home runs. Three of those came in the monster game two inning that featured nine hits - including six extra base hits. The 17 hits ranks 11th in a single game in Cornell history.

Dolhon, who entered the day with one career homer, had two as part of a 4-for-5 day at the plate that included three runs scored and three RBI. Also having big days at the plate was Jessica Bigbie (4-for-6, four runs scored, two RBI), Megan Murray (4-for-8, four RBI, three runs scored), Rebecca Kubena (3-for-7, two runs scored, two RBI) and Leanne Iannucci (2-for-3, five RBI).

Game One
Cornell set the tone for the doubleheader by using an outfield assist to cut down a runner looking to take an extra base in the top of the first and stranded a runner on third, then pieced together a run with a walk and three straight singles, the last by Kubena to put the Big Red up 1-0. An Olivia May double in the second made it 2-0, and after Albany cut the lead in half in the top of the third, Cornell made sure there would be no rally with a four-run answer, including a two-run shot by Dolhon.

Maddie Orcutt did the rest, scattering nine hits and four walks over the complete game, but stranding 12 Albany baserunners with timely pitches. Only one of the three runs she surrendered was earned, and worked relatively quiet fifth and sixth innings before getting out of a runner on third with one out jam in the seventh to close out the win. Orcutt tossed 147 pitches in winning her third game of the season and the 14th of her career.

Dolhon doubled and homered in the opener, as the Big Red had five extra-base hits. Kubena added two hits and both Olivia May and Meg Parker reached base on a hit and a walk.

Game Two
An explosive 11-run inning that looked as if it might never end showcased the Big Red's hitting prowess, but just as importantly, Parker allowed just two hits and five baserunners in capturing her 15th career win in the circle.

Albany opened the game with a single after a nine-pitch battle, and after a walk, a hit batter loaded the bases, Parker squirmed out of the jam allowing just one run. From there, the Big Red took control. Six consecutive hits in the second set the tone for one of the largest offensive explosions in school history, scoring three runs to regain the lead. After Parker shut Albany down 1-2-3 in the second, the Big Red put the game away for good.

Consecutive singles by Emily Weinberg and Jessica Bigbie opened the inning, and after a Megan Murray double, Kubena was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior captain Leanne Iannucci took the second pitch she saw on the day - she singled on the first - and hit a no-doubter to left-centerfield for a grand slam. Dolhon hit a shot to center a pitch later for back-to-back shots, and later that inning Murray homered to right. Sandwiched in between, Bigbie hit a two-run double and Parker doubled in a run.

Albany scored a two-out run in the third, but went in order in the fourth before the Big Red turned an odd double play to end the game in the fifth, as a line drive off the bat of Shaye Swiatek ricocheted off the glove of third baseman Madeline Avery into the glove of Dolhon at short. She alertly fired over to first to retire the runner at first who thought the ball had gone through after the first contact.

Cornell will head back into Ivy League play when Columbia visits Niemand*Robison Field on Saturday, April 16 beginning at 12:30 p.m.