Freshman Hannah Smith pitched all 12 innings the Lake Forest College softball team played against Illinois College and held the reigning Conference champions to only two runs on the day in the doubleheader on Sunday.
The Foresters won 10-1 in five innings in the opener. Smith struck out two batters and allowed only one walk. She held the Lady Blues to five hits, and their only run came in the bottom of the first.
Senior Josie Klein brought freshman Kaylee Purgatorio home off a single in the top of the third to even the score, and then Lake Forest's bats came alive in the top of the fifth when they scored nine runs.
Out of the 11 hits the Foresters had in the game, seven of them came in the fifth inning. Purgatorio started off the inning being walked, and then freshman Caeli Kinsella reached first on a bunt. Junior Elena Chrisman cleared the bases with a three run home run to really get the rally started for the Foresters. The Foresters scored three more before the last scoring play of the game. Purgatorio returned to the plate with runners on first and third and only one out. She hit a ball deep to center, and the center fielder missed the ball diving backwards for it. When the right fielder picked up the ball at the fence, Purgatorio was already at third and was being waved home. The right fielder hit the cut off, who then threw left of the catcher and behind Purgatorio as she ran for home. She crossed the plate safely, earning an inside-the-park three-run home run and securing the win for the Foresters.
In the second game of the day, Smith took the mound again and earned her second win of the day. She threw five strike outs and allowed only four hits and two walks. Illinois College's only run of the game again came in the first inning.
In the top of the second, Lake Forest took the lead after freshman Kelly Collins hit a single and then freshman Cheyenne Pellettiere hit a double in the next at bat. The ball dropped between the left and center fielders, and the center fielder hit the cut off, who then threw the ball high over the catchers head, allowing Collins to reach home safely and Pellettiere to advance to third. Sophomore Angelle Bills grounded out in the next at bat, but Pellettiere was able to score on the play.
There were a couple big defensive plays in the game as well. With one out and runners on first and second in the bottom of the fourth, Illinois College hit a fly ball right to senior Carlie Mertz in left field. When she caught the ball right on the line, the runner on third tagged up and bolted for home. Mertz threw a straight line to the catcher, who tagged the runner and prevented the tying run from scoring. In the bottom of the sixth, Purgatorio stopped a line drive but dropped the ball. She flipped it up to Collins at second, who tagged the base and threw to Pellettiere at first for the double play to end the inning.
Senior Hailey Boylan topped of the day for Lake Forest when she hit a two-run home run in the sixth.
With hits in both games on Sunday, Klein has brought her hitting streak to 16 games. She's currently ranked third in program history at 17 games.
The Foresters climb to a 14-10 record and are now 6-0 in Conference. Illinois College now holds an even record at 11-11 and falls to 4-2 in Conference.
Lake Forest plays at home next on Friday, April 14 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. against Grinnell College.
