The Lake Forest College softball team won 7-6 in the opener and 8-0 in five innings in game two at Monmouth College on Sunday. Forester junior centerfielder Whitney Leiderman was 4-for-7 on the day with a double and her first home run of the season.
Leiderman and junior third baseman Raquel Ness scored the first runs of the day in the top of game one's third inning. Ness led off the frame with a single and went to third on a double by Leiderman. Both runners scored on one of junior rightfielder Kayla Borgra's four base hits in the doubleheader.
After Monmouth rebounded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, the visitors tied the score in the top of the fourth when freshman first baseman led off with a single, stole second, and came home on a double by freshman pitcher Jenny McTague.
Leiderman singled to start another rally in the top of the fifth inning. Borgra followed with a double and an error on the play allowed Leiderman to score. After senior shortstop Sam Ritsema and Airola were each hit by a pitch, McTague singled in a pair of runs. A wild pitch advanced the baserunners and a sacrifice fly by sophomore second baseman Vasi Panos scored Airola with what turned out to be an important insurance run.
Three Monmouth hits and three Forester errors led to a three-run fifth for the Fighting Scots.
Leading 7-6, McTague stranded a Monmouth runner at second base in the fifth inning, Fighting Scots at second and third in the sixth, and the bases loaded in the seventh to earn the victory. McTague struck out six batters and allowed just one earned run in five innings of relief. She is now 4-1 with a 1.60 earned run average on the season.
Leiderman led off game two with a home run and McTague belted her first career round-tripper with Borgra and Ritsema on base later in the first inning. It was Leiderman's 14th career homer, tying her with Erin Watts (2004-07) for fifth place in program history. It was also the fourth time she started a game on the road with a home run.
Borgra drove in run in the second inning on her third double of the day and later scored on an error. The Foresters' final two runs scored on a homer by Panos in the third. It was her first home run of the season and second of her career.
Lake Forest sophomore pitcher Jessi Werner struck out seven batters while allowing just a pair of base hits in the contest. She improved to 6-3 with a 1.92 earned run average on the season. It was her second career shutout.
The sweep completed a 4-0 weekend for the Foresters to begin Midwest Conference play. They are now 10-4 overall. Monmouth fell to 8-9 overall and 0-2 in the league.
Lake Forest will continue conference play with its home-opening doubleheader against Knox College next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
