Foresters Win Fourth Consecutive Midwest Conference Championship
Team defeats Lawrence, Illinois College, and Beloit to earn the title 
  

Lisa Jeziorny singled in 6 of her first 7 at bats of the weekend.

The Foresters took the early lead against Lawrence. Sophomore Erin Watts (Evergreen Park, IL/Evergreen Park) tripled with two outs in the top of the first inning and scored on a single by freshman Jessica Kirincich (Channahon, IL/Minooka). The visitors scored again in the third inning on singles by Kirincich, junior Ashley Closson (Murphysboro, IL/Murphysboro), and senior Justeen Streich (Arlington Heights, IL/Hersey).

After a two-out rally by the Vikings in the bottom of the third gave them a 3-2 lead, Lake Forest regained the edge with two in the top of the fifth. Watts singled and stole second base to start the inning. After an error, two outs, and a walk, the bases were loaded for sophomore pinch-hitter Lisa Jeziorny (Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandburg), who singled up the middle to drive in the tying run. A Lawrence error plated the eventual game winner.

Lake Forest gave freshman pitcher Kendra Grant (Bothell, WA/Bothell) an insurance run to work with in the top of the sixth. Junior Melissa Wegner (Chicago, IL/Lane Tech) tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by Kirincich. Grant allowed just six hits and a walk in the victory.

Closson, who was one of four Foresters with two base hits against Lawrence, was in the pitcher’s circle against Illinois College. Not only did she raise her record on the year to 10-5, but also had three more hits of her own, including her first career triple.

All seven Lake Forest runs came in the top of the second inning. Closson’s single to start the frame was followed by a double by sophomore Jenny Riddle (Bloomington, IL/Normal). Jeziorny singled for the first of four times in the game to drive in Closson. Senior Kristen Feeney (Brookfield, IL/Lyons Township) also singled in a run and a bunt single by classmate Hannah Starck (Aurora, IL/Aurora West) loaded the bases. Another senior, Alissa Mildebrath (Carol Stream, IL/West Chicago) then doubled to drive in all three runners and scored on another double by Wegner. After finally recording a couple of outs, the Foresters scored their seventh and final run on Closson’s triple.

Illinois College scored three times in the fifth and once more in the seventh.

Beloit, which fell to Illinois College and eliminated Lawrence on Friday, avenged its loss to the Lady Blues on Saturday to reach the championship game.

Lake Forest plated the first run of the contest when Mildebrath led off the bottom of the first inning with her second home run of the season and 15th of her career.

Beloit, however, took the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning and made the score 5-1 with three in the fourth.

Wegner knocked one off the lead with her team-high fourth home run of the year to lead off the bottom of the fourth. The Foresters drew to within two runs in the sixth on doubles by Mildebrath and Kirincich.

Riddle matched Wegner with her fourth round-tripper of the season to start the seventh inning. After a couple of Beloit errors, Starck reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Another Bucaneer error let in the tying run and a single by Wegner drove in the game winner. It was her 30th RBI of the season, matching the school record set by Deb Boe in 1984 and tied by assistant coach Robyn Slater in 2002.

All five of Beloit’s runs were unearned. Grant pitched all seven innings for the Foresters and came away with her ninth victory of the year against just three losses. She also lowered her ERA to 2.73.

Lake Forest became just the second team in the MWC to capture at least four consecutive league titles. Coe College claimed at least a share of seven straight from 1980 through 1986 and then won four in a row from 1992 through 1995.

The Foresters will also advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. The team won the regional tourney in 2002 en route to a runner-up national finish. Lake Forest reached the regional final in 2003 and placed fourth last year.