Grinnell softball team set to face Illinois College in Midwest Conference Tourney

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - After playing a back-and-forth doubleheader Sunday that resulted in a split, the Grinnell College and Illinois
College softball teams will meet again five days later.

The Pioneers and Lady Blues square off in the opening round of the Midwest Conference Tournament at 10 a.m. Friday on Lake Forest College's field. That game will be followed by the other semifinal, top-seeded Lake Forest and fourth seed Monmouth College. The tourney champ earns the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

Grinnell enters the tourney as the third seed with a record of 12-4 in the MWC and 18-17 in all games, while second-seeded Illinois College finished 12-3-1 in the league with a 19-12-1 overall record.

While certainly capable of scoring runs, the teams have displayed stellar defense, as well. Grinnell ranks first in MWC games in fielding percentage at .964 and Illinois College is second at .963.

Grinnell is second in both batting (.373 average) and pitching (4.36 earned run average). Top hitters in league play have been Amanda Ramirez '23 (.509/6 doubles/4 triples/14 RBIs), Samantha Chu '24 (.483/8 doubles/2 homers/22 RBIs), Kambria Anson '24 (.404), Taylor Durak '24 (.400/9 doubles/19 RBIs) and Alexa Okada '24 (.382/7 doubles/2 triples/16 RBIs).

On the pitching side, Kathryn Vermeulen '24 is 5-1 in league play with a 3.68 ERA, Lane Kohler '25 is 2-0 with a 3.68 ERA and Maddy O'Bryan '24 owns a 5-3 record and 5.53 ERA.

Illinois College leads the conference in ERA at 2.62 and ranks third in batting with a .363 average. Top pitchers are Julia Drake (3-1, 1.38 ERA), Sydney Hood (4-2, 3.22 ERA) and Jacey Nall (3-0, 3.40 ERA).

Leading the hitting attack are Emma Newton (.534/8 doubles/3 homers/30 RBIs), Madisyn Webster (.492/3 triples), Grace Braun (.455/11 RBIs) and Annie Schimpf (.395/7 RBIs).

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Players Mentioned

#26 Kambria Anson: OF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; L/R

#88 Samantha Chu: UT; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#23 Taylor Durak: P/OF; 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R

#19 Maddy O'Bryan: OF/P; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

#2 Alexa Okada: 2B/OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/R

#10 Amanda Ramirez: MIF/UT; 5' 6"; Junior; R/R

#11 Kathryn Vermeulen: P/OF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#8 Lane Kohler: P/OF; 5' 8"; First-Year; R/R

Players Mentioned

#26 Kambria Anson
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#88 Samantha Chu
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: UT

#23 Taylor Durak
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R
: P/OF

#19 Maddy O'Bryan
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF/P

#2 Alexa Okada
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/R
: 2B/OF

#10 Amanda Ramirez
: 5' 6"; Junior; R/R
: MIF/UT

#11 Kathryn Vermeulen
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: P/OF

#8 Lane Kohler
: 5' 8"; First-Year; R/R
: P/OF