The Lake Forest College softball team was defeated 8-4 in the opener and 10-8 in game two against visiting Robert Morris University Sunday afternoon. Juniors Danielle Gore and Leslie Harshey belted their first home runs since their freshman season.
Gore's round-tripper was the fourth of her career and gave the home team a 3-1 advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning of game one. The Foresters took the early lead when sophomore Ashley Cuthbert drew a one-out walk in the first inning, advanced to third on a double by classmate Aubrey Pendegraft, and scored on a groundout by another sophomore, Nikki Miller. Lake Forest scored its second run in the second inning. Gore led off the frame with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, reached third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch.
Robert Morris got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning, moments before Gore restored the Foresters' two-run cushion. The Eagles then plated one in the sixth inning and broke the game open with six in the seventh.
Cuthbert singled in freshman Sam Ritsema for the game's final run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Lake Forest sophomore pitcher Kelly Chesnut started the game and surrendered three runs in six-and-a-third innings.
The home team also struck first in game two when Cuthbert cleared the left field fence with one out in the first inning.
The Eagles tied the score in the third inning and took the lead with two in the fourth. Lake Forest got one run back in the bottom of the frame when freshman Mindy Runge's two-out single up the middle scored Gore from second.
Robert Morris increased its lead with two more runs in the top of the fifth. The Foresters scored one again in the bottom of the inning when Pendegraft doubled with one out, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Miller.
The visitors had seemingly put the game out of reach when they brought home four runs in the top of the sixth inning and one more in the seventh. Lake Forest, however, had a seventh-inning rally in them and it was nearly enough to erase the entire seven-run deficit. Ritsema led off with a double and Cuthbert followed with her second home run of the game and team-high fourth this season. Cuthbert is the ninth player in team history to belt two homers in a single game. Miller singled with one out and freshman Clare Kavanagh singled for the third time in the contest with two away. Harshey then hit a high fly ball that cleared the fence in left-center field, pulling the Foresters to within 10-8. The tying run came to the plate after Runge was struck in the leg by a pitch but the comeback effort fell just short.
Lake Forest will begin Midwest Conference play next weekend at the MWC Classic in Janesville, Wisconsin. The Foresters will take on Carroll University at 1:00 p.m., Lawrence University at 3:00, and Beloit College at 5:00 on Saturday. The team will also face off against Ripon College at noon on Sunday and St. Norbert College at 2:00.
