The Lake Forest softball team was handed its first Conference loss of the season in the opening game of the twinbill against Monmouth College on Sunday. They were able to bounce back from the 5-3 loss to win the second game 11-3 in six innings.
In the opener, the Scots took the lead in the top of the third, and the Foresters were able to tie in the bottom of the inning. In the fourth, however, Monmouth scored three more runs and got enough of a lead that the Foresters were unable to narrow the gap, despite plating a run in the sixth and seventh. Errors were rampant in the game; only one of the Lake Forest runs scored was an earned run. The Monmouth pitcher kept the Foresters to only four hits.
The second game of the doubleheader saw the Forester bats come alive again. Senior Carlie Mertz batted in the first run of the game after senior Josie Klein reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second. Mertz hit a doubled to center, and Klein made it home easily.
Monmouth took the lead in the third inning when they scored three runs. Mertz doubled again in the fourth to bring the score to 3-2, and then freshman Cheyenne Pellettiere was able to plate a run when there was a passed ball with the bases loaded.
With the score tied three a piece, the Foresters took a decisive lead in the fifth inning. The run came when, with Klein on second and Mertz on third, freshman Kelly Collins hit a ball to the second baseman; she reached first on a fielder's choice, but the catcher was unable to handle the ball and Klein crossed home plate safely. Mertz was able to advance to third on the throw to home. Collins went to second during the confusion at the plate, and when the catcher threw the ball back to second, Mertz went for home. Both runners were safe, and the Foresters had their lead. They scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth.
The run that put the Forestesr up by eight and ended the game came in the sixth when Pellettiere crossed the plate on a wild pitch after she hit a double to get on base.
Mertz completed and earned the win in the second game. She only allowed two walks and struck out five on the day; she also helped her team out by going 3-for-3 at the plate with all three hits being doubles.
Lake Forest moves to a 21-13 overall record and are now 13-1 in Conference; they have clinched a spot in the Midwest Conference Championship Tournament. Monmouth College is now 10-20 and 7-4 in Conference.
The Foresters will play next at home on Sunday, May 1 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. It will be the team's Senior Day.