Despite taking the lead early in both games, the Lake Forest softball team was unable to come up with the runs needed to beat Illinois Wesleyan University in their home opener on Tuesday. The Foresters fell 9-6 and 6-2 against the Titans.
The Foresters were on the board first in the game when sophomore Angelle Bills hit a single up the middle to bat in senior Josie Klein, who'd hit a triple in her at bat. Illinois Wesleyan tied up the score at one a piece in the top of the third.
Much of the scoring went back and forth between the teams with the Foresters taking the in the third and fourth innings, only to have the Titans tie the score again. Lake Forest took the lead in the top of the fourth off a pair of singles by Klein and senior Carlie Mertz and a double by freshman Kelly Collins. The Titans tied up the score on a wild pitch, and then scored the winning run off a three-run homer in the top of the seventh.
In the second game, the Titans scored first, but the Foresters answered immediately when Klein hit a two-run homerun, her first of the season. That would be the only Forester runs of the game.
Illinois Wesleyan hit two homeruns, one three-run homer in the top of the third and one 2-run in the top the seventh that secured their victory.
Despite recording the loss for the Foresters, pitcher Hannah Smith recoreded five strike outs and only allowed two walks and nine hits in the 6.2 innings she worked the mound.
The Foresters are 6-6 on the season. Illinois Wesleyan moves to 3-5.
Lake Forest plays again on Wednesday. They'll face Washington University (Mo.) at Heritage Park in Wheeling, Illinois at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.