Junior shortstop Kat Beall had a base hit in both games but the Forester softball team was defeated 5-2 and 6-4 at Cornell College on Saturday.
Beall's run-scoring double to the gap in right-center made the score 2-0 in the second inning of game one. A single by freshman catcher Sydney Wyatt and double by freshman designated player Haylee Sherlund put runners on second and third earlier in the inning. Senior pitcher Jenny McTague drove in Wyatt on a groundout and Beall followed with her team-high eighth double of the year.
Unfortunately for the visitors, those were the only runs they scored in the contest.
Cornell got a run back in the bottom of the second and then exploded for four on give base hits in the fourth. McTague did not allow a hit in any of the Rams' other five innings on offense.
After having her 18-game run scored streak snapped in the opener, Forester sophomore centerfielder Maria Zepeda wasted little time starting another one in game two. She beat out a bunt single to lead off the game, stole second, and came home on a base hit by freshman first baseman Riley Frisbie. After a walk and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third, Sophomore third baseman Alyssa Grimm bunted in one run and another scored on a wild pickoff throw, giving the visitors an early 3-0 lead.
The margin reached four runs in the top of the second. Beall singled with one out and came all the way around to score on a double by Frisbie.
Cornell got on the scoreboard with a single tally in the bottom of the third and turned a three-run deficit into a two-run lead with five in the fifth. The home team held on for the victory and doubleheader sweep.
Lake Forest is now 16-14 overall this season and 7-5 in Midwest Conference play. Cornell improved to 21-7 overall and 9-3 in the league.
The Foresters will travel to Knox College on Sunday for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.