Foresters Blank Ripon Twice

Photos by Katie Frisbie
Photos by Katie Frisbie

Junior Missy Dieckman-Meyer and senior Kyra Lenzi tossed shutouts on the same day for the second time this season Monday as Lake Forest prevailed 1-0 and 10-0 at Ripon College.

Dieckman-Meyer scattered five singles and struck out seven batters without issuing a walk in the opener. Only one Red Hawk reached third base in the game and just one other made it to second. Both of her shutouts this season have been 1-0 finals and she is now alone in sixth place in program history with seven shutouts in her career.

The Foresters managed just three base hits in game one. The only run of the contest was scored in the top of the sixth inning, which started with an error allowing senior centerfielder Maria Zepeda to reach second base. She advanced to third on a flyout to right and eventually came home on a bases-loaded walk to sophomore catcher Nicole Schussler.

Dieckman-Meyer retired the side in order in the bottom of the sixth and seventh to finish off the victory. She finished off her day with a pinch-hit single in game two.

Lenzi added another dominant performance in her half of the doubleheader. All three of Ripon's hits were singles and they did not have a runner reach third base until loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh. A double play, however, ended the scoring threat and the game. Lenzi has two saves and a shutout in her last three appearances spanning a total of 11 scoreless innings.

The Foresters racked up a season-high 15 hits in the contest, including two each from five different batters. Zepeda hit a pair of sacrifice flies, sophomore designated player Hannah Kalnicky doubled in a pair of runs, and junior rightfielder Maddie Trost had a two-run double of her own to go with an RBI single.

Lake Forest scored once in each of the first two innings and twice in the third. The visitors maintained their 4-0 lead until breaking through for six runs in the top of the seventh.

The victories raised the Foresters' overall record on the season to 13-11 and they improved to 6-2 in Midwest Conference play. Ripon fell to 7-19 overall and 2-8 in the league.

Lake Forest will host Millikin University in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.