The Forester softball team defeated Lancaster Bible College 21-0 in five innings and fell 4-1 to Webster University at the Dot Richardson Spring Games in Clermont, Florida, on Tuesday. Lake Forest sophomore catcher Alex Hemmer belted a grand slam and became just the fourth player in team history to drive in as many as seven runs in a game.
Hemmer drove in half of the Foresters' 12 runs in the first inning of the day. She plated two on a double and four more on her first career grand slam. Sophomore third baseman Sally Snarski followed Hemmer's round-tripper with one of her own for the 12th run of the frame. Senior shortstop Sam Ritsema singled in a run, junior leftfielder Alyssa Vechiola drove one in on a ground ball, junior centerfielder Audrey Djukic drew a bases-loaded walk, and two more baserunners came home on an error and passed ball by the catcher earlier in the inning.
Lake Forest scored nine more times in the second. The first run of the inning scored on a ground ball by Djukic, the second when Hemmer was hit by a pitch, and the third and fourth on a double by Snarski. An error by the shortstop allowed another run and sophomore second baseman Vasi Panos singled in a pair. Freshman rightfielder Sam Roselfeld added her first career RBI and the last run came home after a single by Vechiola.
Freshman Jenny McTague pitched all five innings for her first career victory and shutout. McTague struck out eight batters and walked three while allowing just two base hits.
Forester sophomore pitcher Jessi Werner went the distance in the second game. Just one of the four runs she allowed in the fourth inning was earned and she lowered her ERA on the season to 1.11 in 19 innings of work.
Lake Forest finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning when junior rightfielder Kayla Borgra hit a two-out single, advanced to second on an error, and scored on a base hit by Ritsema.
Borgra had two of the Foresters' six base hits and also drew a walk in the contest.
Lake Forest is now 2-2 after two days of play. Lancaster Bible fell to 0-3 and Webster evened its record at 4-4.
The Foresters will take on Heidelberg University Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. (ET) and Bowdoin College at 1:00 in the afternoon.
