Lake Forest was defeated 6-5 in eight innings in the opener and 5-1 in game two against Buena Vista University on Saturday. The season-opening doubleheader for the Foresters was played indoors at The Ballpark at Rosemont.
The Foresters scored three times in the top of the seventh to force extra innings in the opener. Trailing 5-2, senior third baseman Emma Varsbergs started the rally with a one-out walk and junior catcher Sydney Wyatt followed with a base hit. A pinch-hit double by freshman Hailey Boylan brought home the first run of the frame and the other two scored on an a two-out error.
Unfortunately for the Foresters, they were unable to bring home a runner from third base with no outs in the top of the eighth and a pair of one-out singles brought home the winning run in the bottom of the inning.
Lake Forest had taken the early lead with a pair of runs in the opening inning. Senior centerfielder Maria Zepeda led off the season with a double and scored on a two-bagger by senior shortstop Alyssa Grimm. Varsbergs followed with a base hit that scored Grimm.
The Beavers, however, plated two runs in the bottom of the first to tie the game and added single tallies in the third, fourth, and fifth.
Lake Forest junior pitcher Missy Dieckman-Meyer struck out a career-high 11 batters in the contest but took the complete game loss.
The Foresters fell behind early in game two, surrendering a pair of runs in the top of the first and one more in the third. They finally got on the scoreboard themselves in the bottom of the sixth on a fielder's choice groundout off the bat of junior shortstop Maddie Trost.
A two-run seventh helped secure the victory and doubleheader sweep for Buena Vista.
Lake Forest committed four errors in the game and all five runs allowed by senior Kyra Lenzi were unearned.
The Foresters will return to The Ballpark at Rosemont on Sunday to take on Concordia University Wisconsin at 12:30 p.m. and Lakeland University at 2:30 p.m.
