The Lake Forest softball team clinched the 2022 Midwest Conference title with the game one win against Lawrence University on Sunday. The Foresters went on to win the second game of the twinbill as well, but only needed that first victory to secure the title. Lake Forest will host the MWC Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
In a rare feat, there were two inside-the-park home runs, one in each game of the series and both coming from the Foresters.
Senior Josie Klein put the home team up 1-0 when she hit a fly ball to right field, and the Viking player could not grab it. When it the ground, it bounced and rolled to the right field fence and by the time the right fielder was able to throw it to the pitcher, Klein was sprinting down the base path to home plate, where she crossed safely.
Lawrence would run up the score 3-1 in the top of the second but would not score again until the sixth inning. In the meantime, the Foresters scored nine runs, including six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two in scoring position, freshman Kaylee Purgatorio hit a single that drove in two runs, and then stole second during the next at bat before she herself was batted in on a single by fellow freshman Caeli Kinsella. A few batters later and with the bases loaded, senior Hailey Boylan hit a ground ball right to the shortstop. The shortstop, however, threw high over the first baseman's head and the ball sailed passed her, which allowed Boylan to reach first and the three other runners to score.
With the Foresters up by six and with two runners on in the bottom of the sixth, senior Carlie Mertz hit a bomb down the left field line that hit the foul pole for a home run. When she crossed the plate, the score was 13-4, and the game was over due to the run rule.
Freshman Hannah Smith added another win to her tally. She pitched the complete game allowing two walks, eight hits, and striking out three.
The second game of the series ended after five innings with the Foresters winning 10-2.
Lawrence scored first in the top of the first inning. The Foresters again saw a big offensive play in the bottom of the inning when, with the bases loaded, freshman Kelly Collins hit a line drive right over the shortstop's head and into left field. The ball went passed Viking left fielder, who followed it to the fence and was not fast enough to turn and hit the cutoff player. By the time the ball was to the catcher, Collins was home for an inside-the-park grand slam.
The Vikings scored again in the second inning and were held scoreless for the rest of the game. Lake Forest two more runs in the second and two in the fourth before they put the game to bed in the bottom of the fifth. Purgatorio batted in the game-winning runs when she hit a double to center field with runners on second and third.
Mertz recorded the victory and pitched the complete game. She had seven strike outs on the day and allowed just five hits.