LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Grinnell College put up a good fight against the three-time defending Midwest Conference softball champions before losing both ends of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon.
Lake Forest College took the opener 8-2 and then held off the Pioneers for a 5-4 decision in the second game.
Grinnell, 3-3 in the MWC and 5-13 overall, lost the second game despite outhitting the hosts 9-6.
Lydia Stariha '17 led the way with three hits, including a double.
Andi Leff '18 also doubled.
The visitors erupted for three runs in the top of the first as
Mikyla Murphy '19 delivered an RBI single up the middle, Stariha scored on an error and
Ashley Wehrenberg '19 pushed across another run on a fielder's choice.
However, the hosts came right back with four runs in the bottom of the first. The Pioneers tied it in the fourth when
Emily Jordan '19 singled up the middle and eventually scored on
Sage Juveland's '17 single to right.
However, Lake Forest scored in the bottom of the fourth for the winning margin.
Maggie Remus' '19 was the pitcher of record for Grinnell, striking out three and scattering six hits.
The hit total was equal at 9-all in the second game, with
Kayla Morrissey '18 coming up with three hits for the Pioneers and Remus two. Juveland and Jordan each doubled.
Grinnell got a run in the first on Murphy's RBI groundout, but Lake Forest answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame and another in the second.
The Pioneers tacked on a run in the third on Remus' RBI single to center before Lake Forest scored twice in the fourth.
Anderson was the pitcher of record for Grinnell and struck out three.
During the games, four Pioneers advanced up the program's all-time list. Morrissey is now fourth in career hits with 125 and ninth in runs scored with 58. Stariha is third in at-bats with 364, Juveland moved to fifth in walks with 33 and
Andi Leff '18 is ninth in doubles with 19.
The Pioneers step out of league play Thursday when Iowa Wesleyan University visits the Softball Complex. The first pitch is at 3 p.m.
