Foresters Split Against North Central in First Home Doubleheader
Kristen Feeney sets new school record with five hits in game two 
  

Kristen Feeney set a school record with five base hits.

Sophomore pitcher Ashley Closson (Murphysboro, IL/Murphysboro) started the day off strong, hitting her first career home run in the second inning. The Cardinals tied the game in the fifth when Jacki Nelson doubled to center field, knocking in Jackie Kay. That did not disappoint the Foresters, who retaliated with back-to-back doubles from juniors Alissa Mildebrath (Carol Stream, IL/West Chicago) and Kristen Feeney (Brookfield, IL/Lyons Township), giving Lake Forest a 2-1 advantage in the sixth inning. 

North Central recaptured the lead (3-2) in the top of the seventh, but freshman Jenny Riddle's (Bloomington, IL/Normal) first career home run in the bottom of the frame forced extra innings. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Riddle doubled to left center field to score freshman Erin Watts (Evergreen Park, IL/Evergreen Park) from first base with the game-winning run. Freshman Mackenzie Knowling (Lafayette, IN/McCutcheon) earned her third victory of the year.

In game two, the Cardinals were all business, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Once again, Lake Forest didn't drop their heads. In the bottom of the inning, Watts hit a two-run homer to cut the lead in half. The Foresters eventually connected for eight hits in the inning to take a 5-4 lead.

North Central scored three runs on two hits in the top of the third inning to take a 7-6 advantage over the Foresters, who came back strong in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs on three hits. Feeney went 5-for-5 on the day, including a single up the middle that knocked in sophomore shortstop Melissa Wegner (Chicago, IL/Lane Tech) and Watts for the first two runs in the third. 

North Central chipped away at the lead in the fourth and fifth innings, scoring one run in each before batting in five more in the sixth to take a 14-10 advantage. In the bottom of the sixth, Watts drove in two runs with a double to right center to cut the lead to two, but the rally stopped short. The Cardinals improved their record to 9-5 on the season. Knowling took her first loss on the year despite having nine Lake Forest players connecting on at least one hit during the game.

Lake Forest College resumes play on Thursday (April 1) at Carthage College at 2:30 p.m.

By Tiffany Rudak

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2