The Lake Forest College softball team won 6-3 and 10-2 (five
innings) at Monmouth College on Sunday (April 18), raising its
overall record on the season to 18-10-1. The Foresters are now 8-1
with 12 points in Midwest Conference play and has clinched one of
the MWC South Division's two spots in the MWC Championship
Tournament and is one league victory shy of clinching the right to
host the event. The Fighting Scots fell to 10-18 overall and 6-5 in
conference games.
Sophomore catcher/outfielder Danielle Gore (Arlington Heights,
Ill./Hersey) and freshman designated player Nikki Miller
(Starkville, Miss./Starkville Academy) each had four of the
Foresters' 22 base hits on the day. Gore led the visitors with four
runs scored and Miller with five RBI.
Lake Forest jumped out to the early lead in the opener by scoring
three runs in the first inning. Gore started the rally with a
one-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored two
batters later on a double by senior third baseman Mallory Norton
(Chicago, Ill./Resurrection). Miller then tripled in Norton and
came home when the next hitter reached on an error.
Gore singled to start the third inning and later scored on a double
by Miller.
After Monmouth plated two in the bottom of the fourth to cut the
Lake Forest lead in half, the visitors scored two runs of the own
in the top of the fifth. Gore started the rally again with a
one-out single. After a pair of errors loaded the bases, Miller
matched a career-high with her third base hit of the contest. Two
runs scored, making Miller the fourth Forester this season to drive
in four runs in a game.
The only earned run of the game allowed by Lake Forest freshman
pitcher Jordan Ratliff (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield) scored in
the bottom of the sixth inning. She scattered seven base hits,
struck out five batters, and did not issue a walk. Ratliff is now
8-4 with a 1.57 earned run average on the season.
Fellow freshman pitcher Molly Thomsen (Rumford, R.I./St. Mary
Academy) pitched all five innings for the Foresters in game two,
allowing just two runs on five hits and raising her record on the
year to 5-4.
Lake Forest scored in the first inning for the 14th time this
season. Freshman second baseman Megan Harkins (Homewood,
Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) singled to start the contest, advanced all
the way to third on a sacrifice bunt by Gore, and scored on a base
hit by senior shortstop Tracy Rainey (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park), who
leads the Foresters with 29 runs batted in. The Scots, however,
tied the score with a run of their own in the bottom of the
frame.
The visitors took the lead for good with four runs in the third
inning. Harkins started the inning with a single, stole a couple of
bases, and scored on a base hit by Gore. Rainey walked and Norton
singled in Gore. Miller's base hit plated Rainey and Norton scored
on a double by senior outfielder Jeanette Andresen (Woodridge,
Ill./Downers Grove South).
Both teams scored a run in the fourth inning, the Foresters when
senior outfielder Sam Pinsoneault (Manchester, N.H./New Hampton),
who started the frame with a single, scored from first on a one-out
double by Gore.
Lake Forest scored four times in the top of the fifth inning to
extend its lead to eight runs. Norton led off with her team-high
sixth home run of the season and the 18th round-tripper of her
career. Sophomore outfielder Leslie Harshey (Mundelein,
Ill./Mundelein) singled with two outs and scored on a double by
senior first baseman Shelby Neill (Manitou Beach, Mich./Lenawee
Christian). Pinsonneault walked and Harkins tripled in the final
two runs on the game.
Harkins had three on the team's 15 hits and Gore, Norton, Harshey,
and Neill finished with two apiece.
The Foresters will play close out its league schedule with a pair
of home doubleheaders next weekend (April 24-25). The team will
host Knox College Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and Grinnell College at the
same time on Sunday. Live
Stats during all four games will be
available on the Lake Forest College Athletics Web site.
May 13, 2010
Megan Harkins Named Forester Athlete of the Week
April 29, 2010
Jordan Ratliff Repeats as Forester Athlete of the Week
April 25, 2010
Foresters Sweep Grinnell to Finish 12-1 in Conference Play
April 22, 2010
Jordan Ratliff Named Forester Athlete of the Week
April 17, 2010
Lake Forest Wins 7-1 and 5-2 at Illinois College
April 15, 2010
Tracy Rainey Named Forester Athlete of the Week
April 14, 2010
Foresters Fall Twice to Visiting Wheaton College
March 30, 2010
Jordan Ratliff Named Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Week
March 30, 2010
Lake Forest Wins the Opener, Ties Game Two at Chicago
March 18, 2010
Mallory Norton Named Forester Athlete of the Week
March 10, 2010
Lake Forest Splits Two More Games in Florida on Wednesday