Lake Forest Splits Games on Day One of MWC Tournament

Photo by Matt Demirs
Photo by Matt Demirs

Sophomore centerfielder Maria Zepeda scored four more runs as the Forester softball team fell 4-3 to host St. Norbert College before defeating Illinois College 7-2 on day one of the 2017 Midwest Conference Tournament.

Lake Forest jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning against St. Norbert. Consecutive singles by freshman first baseman Riley Frisbie, sophomore leftfielder Abby King, and junior second baseman Jillian Rashid loaded the bases and a fielder's choice groundout off the bat of sophomore third baseman Alyssa Grimm brought home Frisbie.

Zepeda scored the visitors' second run of the contest after drawing a walk to lead off the third inning, advancing to third on a double by Frisbie, and coming home on a groundout by King.

The Foresters increased their lead to three runs in the fourth when senior rightfielder Sam Rosenfeld raced home on a wind pitch.

The Green Knights finally got on the scoreboard in their half of the fourth and then completed the comeback victory with three in the bottom of the seventh.

Frisbie had half of Lake Forest's six hits and senior pitcher Jenny McTague allowed just five while striking out five in the contest.

The Foresters had to come from behind a couple of times against Illinois College, who fell to Cornell College in the first game of the day. After the Lady Blues plated the game's first run in the top of the second inning, Lake Forest tied the score in the bottom of the third. Zepeda led off the frame with a single and sprinted to second for her school record-tying 21st stolen base of the year. After advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt, she scored on a base hit by Rashid.

Illinois College regained the advantage a half-inning later but a four-run fifth for the Foresters put them ahead for good. Zepeda got things started once again when she was hit by a pitch and Frisbie followed with her fourth hit of the day and team-high ninth home run of the year. King singled, Grimm doubled, and a base hit by junior shortstop Kat Beall brought both of the home to complete the rally.

Zepeda led of the bottom of the sixth with a walk and scored her 50th run of the season on a single by Grimm. King, who matched Frisbie with four hits in the two games combined, scored the final run of the contest on a sacrifice fly by freshman catcher Sydney Wyatt.

Freshman pitcher Missy Dieckman-Meyer, who took the loss after coming on in relief in the first game of the day, earned the victory against Illinois College by allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out four. She is now 13-6 on the season.

St. Norbert defeated Cornell in the fourth and final game of the day. Lake Forest and Cornell will play Saturday morning at 10:00 with the winner advancing to face St. Norbert at noon. The Foresters or Rams would need to post a pair of victories over the Green Knights to win the event and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.