Foresters to Host MWC Tournament after Dramatic Victories over Grinnell
Mallory Norton drives in winning run in seventh inning of both games 
  

Mallory Norton

Tracy Rainey

Gretchen Galasek

Kendra Grant

Grinnell scored its only run of the opener in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly following three consecutive bunts – the first two for hits.

Lake Forest stranded one runner in each of the first four innings and two in both the fifth and sixth before finally scoring in the seventh. Senior Erin Ruberg (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) walked to lead off the frame and a well-placed bunt by freshman Nicole Moser (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn Community) bounced past the Pioneer third baseman, putting runners on first and second. Sophomore Tracy Rainey (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) then belted a double to deep left-center field, scoring Grant and sending Moser to third. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, sophomore Mallory Norton (Chicago, Ill./ Resurrection) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Moser with the game-winning run.

Freshman Gretchen Galasek (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest) pitched all seven innings for the Foresters and surrendered just one run on five base hits while striking out five and walking two. She raised her record on the year to 4-3 and lowered her earned run average to 3.83.

Grinnell also scored first in game two on a double and single to start the bottom of the second inning.

Lake Forest tied the score in the top of the third on consecutive one-out singles by Rainey, senior Christy Condon (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East), and Norton and a two-out base hit by sophomore Shelby Neill (Manitou Beach, Mich./Lenawee Christian).

The score remained 1-1 until the top of the seventh. Rainey started the two-out rally with a base hit and Condon was hit by a pitch. Norton then gave the Foresters the lead with her third home run of the season.

Senior Kendra Grant (Bothell, Wash./Bothell), who relieved sophomore Jeanette Andresen (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South) after the first inning, needed just four pitches to retire the side in order in the bottom of the seventh. She scattered six base hits over as many innings and struck out two without walking a batter in the game. She is now 7-6 with a 3.13 earned run average on the year.

Lake Forest will close out the regular season with a doubleheader at home against North Central College Tuesday afternoon (April 29) at 3:00 p.m.