The Forester softball team began the 2014 season with a 9-6 victory over Millikin University in nine innings and a 3-2 loss to the College of St. Scholastica in eight on Monday. Lake Forest sophomore pitcher Jessi Werner allowed just two earned runs in 12 innings on the day.
Werner went the distance in the opener, matching her career-high for innings pitched in a game. She struck out five batters while walking two and four of the six runs she allowed were unearned.
Junior centerfielder Whitney Leiderman had three of the Foresters' 10 base hits in the game and scored a pair of runs. Sophomore catcher Alex Hemmer was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one driven in. Senior shortstop Sam Ritsema doubled and scored twice, sophomore third baseman Sally Snarski doubled in a run, and freshman Jenny McTague also had a double that brought home a pair of Foresters in the ninth inning.
Five of Lake Forest's nine runs in the game were scored in the two extra innings, each of which began with a runner on second base. McTague entered the game as a pinch-runner to start the eighth but was eventually called out on a play at the plate. Freshman first baseman Tara Airola, who had reached base on an error, followed McTague to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore second baseman Vasi Panos.
Millikin also scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth, tying the game at five and extending it another inning.
The ninth-inning rally began with Vechiola on second base. Leiderman beat out a bunt, stole second, and advanced to third when the Big Blue pitcher fielded a ground ball and threw out Vechiola at the plate. After a walk loaded the bases, Hemmer singled to right to put the Foresters back on top, McTague doubled to center to score two more, and Airola plated the fourth run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to left.
Millikin scored one more run in the bottom of the ninth but Werner held on for the victory.
After collecting 10 hits in the first game of the day, the Foresters managed just three base hits against St. Scholastica, yet led 2-0 after Leiderman and junior right fielder Kayla Borgra walked to begin the third inning and eventually scored on wild pitches.
McTague, Lake Forest's starting pitcher in the game, kept the Saints off the scoreboard until the top of the sixth inning. Three singles loaded the bases and a double off Werner scored two runs to tied the score. Werner struck out the next three batters to escape with no more damage.
St. Scholastica scored on another double in the eighth inning and the Foresters stranded the tying run on third base in the bottom of the frame.
McTague recorded four strikeouts while walking two batters in the game. Werner had six strikeouts in just three innings and also issued a pair of walks.
Airola had two of the Foresters' three base hits in the contest.
Lake Forest will take on Lancaster Bible College at 9:00 (ET) Tuesday morning and Webster University at 1:00 in the afternoon.
