Freshman Kelly Collins went 6-for-7 with four RBIs and three runs scored and helped Lake Forest softball win their doubleheader against Beloit College on Friday. The games marked the first in Conference play for the Foresters.
Collins scored two runs and batted in four in the first game, hitting 4-for-4 in the game. Her first two RBIs were earned in the top of the first when she hit a single with a runner on third and one on first. In the next at bat, reshman Kaylee Purgatorio brought Collins home when she hit a triple. In the top of the fourth, Collins herself hit a triple with runners on third and second, bringing both of them home, and she herself scored on the next at bat when Purgatorio hit a double.
Senior Josie Klein also had a big first game when she hit two home runs. Klein 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three batted in. Her first homer came in the top of the first with junior Elena Chrisman on second. Her second was a solo shot to center field in the top of the second—her very next at bat.
Chrisman herself also hit a home run as did senior Hailey Boylan.
Freshman Hannah Smith pitched the full game, allowing only five hits and two walks and striking out five. The game was called in after the fifth inning, and the Foresters won decisively 12-1.
The second game of the day was a back and forth battle between the two teams. The Foresters took the lead twice in the first two innings until the Buccaneers scored four in the bottom of the second. They remained in the lead until the top of the fifth when the Foresters scored three; they would not surrender the lead again and won the game 8-7.
Collins went 3-for-4 in game two, scoring once. Purgatorio earned two RBIs in the game, once off a triple in the top of the second and once when she singled to enter in the top of the fourth.
Klein scored the final run of the game for the Foresters, securing their win. She was brought home from third off a sacrifice bunt from Boylan.
Senior Carlie Mertz earned the win, her third of the season. She pitch four innings, allowing five hits and two walks and striking out two.
The Foresters are now back at .500. Their record sits a 9-9, and they are 2-0 in Conference. Beloit falls to 3-12 and 0-2.
Lake Forest plays next on Sunday, April 3 at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. when they host Carthage College.