Foresters Record Doubleheader Sweeps at Illinois College and Monmouth
Team hits eight homers on the weekend, including a team record three in a game by Jill Pfund 
  

Jill Pfund

Hannah Michal

Jeanette Andresen

Christy Condon

Shelby Neill

Mallory Norton

Lake Forest took the lead in the top of the first inning of Saturday’s opener when junior Hannah Michal (Lake Villa, Ill./Grayslake) singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice, and scored on a double by senior Christy Condon (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East). The home team, however, plated two in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 advantage.

The Foresters tied the game in the third when Michal reached on an error and scored on another Lady Blue miscue. The visitors took the lead in the fourth on the first of three home runs in the game by sophomore Jill Pfund (Morenci, Mich./Morenci).

Michal scored again in the fifth by leading off the inning with a base hit, stealing second, and scoring on a base hit by freshman Nicole Moser (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn Community). An RBI-groundout by Condon later in the inning scored Moser. Sophomore Mallory Norton (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) then doubled and scored on a single by classmate Shelby Neill (Manitou Beach, Mich./Lenawee Christian), who came home on Pfund’s second round-tripper of the contest.

After a scoreless sixth inning, sophomore Tracy Rainey (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) and Condon started the seventh with singles and both scored on another double by Norton. Two batters later Pfund became the first player in program history to belt three home runs in a game.

Sophomore Jeanette Andresen (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South) pitched all seven innings and allowed just two runs on six base hits. She struck out two and walked two in the contest.

In game two, Michal led off the bottom of the first inning with her first home run of the season.

The Foresters held their 1-0 until the Lady Blues tied the game in the top of the sixth inning. Rainey led off the bottom of the frame with a single and Condon drew a walk. Norton then executed a sacrifice bunt and Neill singled to drive in Rainey with what turned out to be the winning run.

Freshman Gretchen Galasek (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest) went the distance and surrendered one run on six base hits for her first career victory. She also struck out one and walked one.

Michal led off Sunday’s first inning with a base hit and scored on a double by Rainey. Walks to Condon, Neill, and Pfund scored Rainey and gave the visitors an early two-run lead.

Monmouth, however, scored once in each of the first, third, and fourth innings to take the lead.

Lake Forest tied the game on a home run by Neill in the top of the sixth but the home team regained the lead with two in the bottom of the inning.

Sophomore Sam Pinsonneault (Manchester, N.H./New Hampton) reached on an error to lead off the seventh inning and Moser added a single. With two outs in the inning and two strikes on Condon, the program’s career leader in home runs belted her fifth homer of the year to give the Foresters the lead.

Galasek started the game and threw the first three-and-a-third innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and six hits while striking out three and walking a batter. Senior Kendra Grant (Bothell, Wash./Bothell) gave up a pair of runs (one earned) in three-and-two-third innings of work. She surrendered four base hits, struck out one, and earned the victory to even her record on the year at 4-4.

Game two began with the Fighting Scots scoring three times in the top of the first inning. Lake Forest tied the score in the bottom of the second on an RBI-double by Norton, her team-leading eighth two-bagger of the season, and a two-run home run by Neill.

After Monmouth regained the lead with two runs in the top of the third, the Foresters erupted for seven without the aid of an extra-base hit in the bottom of the frame. Moser led off with a single and also drove in the rally’s final two runs with another base hit. Rainey and Pfund had RBI-singles and senior Erin Ruberg (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) drove in a pair on her base hit.

Monmouth scored its final run of the game in the top of the fifth. Lake Forest put the game out of reach in the sixth when Condon singled in Rainey and Neill hit her second homer of the game, third on the day, and fourth this season.

Andresen relieved Grant in the third inning and limited the Scots to a run on three base hits in four-and-a-third innings. She struck out one, walked three, and raised her record on the year to 5-1.

The Foresters are scheduled to play their 2008 home opener Thursday afternoon (April 10) at 3:00 against North Central College. The team will then travel to Janesville, Wisconsin, over the weekend for five Midwest Conference Classic games against the teams from the league’s North Division. Lake Forest’s Saturday opponents are Ripon College, St. Norbert College, and Beloit College and the Foresters will take on Carroll College and Lawrence University on Sunday.