The Forester softball team split two more games on Friday, defeating Methodist University 8-4 in eight innings and falling 12-7 to Albion College. Lake Forest sophomore third baseman Aubrey Pendegraft had five base hits on the day, including two doubles and a home run.
Pendegraft's first home run of the season gave the Foresters the lead over Methodist in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman left fielder Mindy Runge followed with a walk, advanced to third on a single by freshman designated player Clare Kavanagh, and scored on a base hit by sophomore pitcher Kelly Chesnut.
Lake Forest added run in the top of the third. Sophomore second baseman Megan Harkins led off with a base hit, stole second, and scored on a double by sophomore first baseman Nikki Miller.
Methodist got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning and tied the score at three in the sixth.
The score remained 3-3 until the top of the eighth inning. Freshman shortstop Sam Ritsema was placed on second base to start the frame and went to third on a groudout by Miller. Junior outfielder Leslie Harshey singled in Ritsema with the lead run and Runge followed with another base hit. After a Methodist error loaded the bases, Chesnut singled in two runs and Harkins' third base hit of the game plated one more.
Methodist scored once in the bottom of the frame before Chesnut closed things out. Just two of the four runs she allowed in the contest were earned and she struck out three batters while walking just one in the eight-inning complete game victory. She is now 2-2 on the season.
Albion and Lake Forest combined for seven runs in the first inning, including four by the Foresters. A leadoff single by Harkins, a walk, and a base hit by Ritsema loaded the bases with no outs. Miller singled in the first run, Harshey drew a walk to score the second, and Pendegraft's base hit plated two more.
After the Brittons scored one more run in the top of the second, Harkins scored again in the bottom of the frame. She led off with another single, advanced to third on a pair of passed balls, and scored on an error.
Albion pulled ahead for good with a three-run third inning and added one in the fourth and two in the fifth to take a 10-5 advantage.
Lake Forest started the bottom of the sixth inning with back-to-back base hits by Kavanagh and Runge. Harkins follwed with an RBI-bunt single, her sixth hit of the day, but the Foresters were unable to score more than once in the frame.
Albion added two more insurance runs in the seventh inning.
Pendegraft doubled to start the bottom of the seventh and later scored the final run of the game on an error.
The Foresters finished their Spring Break trip with a 3-5 record. Methodist fell to 8-9 and Albion raised its record to 7-3.
Lake Forest's next two games will be played at Wheaton College on Saturday, March 19, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
