Despite Late Lead in Opener, Scots Drop Pair at Grinnell

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (04/10/2025) — The Monmouth College softball team started Midwest Conference play with a pair of losses at Grinnell on Wednesday. The Fighting Scots (4-20, 0-2) led game 1 9-2 in the sixth inning but lost 15-10 before falling 11-1 in game 2.

The Scots jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first inning, marking their third straight game with a run in the first. Karliegh Ashby (Monmouth, Illinois) led off the first with a single she scored on a double by Savannah Powers (Volo, Illinois). With powers on third, Shelby Covey (Peoria, Illinois) made it 2-0 with a RBI groundout.

Monmouth starter Lizzie Durfee (Arlington, Washington) struck out two in the first inning and two more in the second as the Pioneers left a pair on base.

Ashby led off the third with a double and she moved to third on a single by Brooklyn Manners (Burleson, Texas). Manners stole second and Ashby scored on a single by Powers. After Powers stole second, Covey gave the Scots a 5-0 lead with a 2-run single to right. Mackenzie Gerard (Jacksonville, Illinois) singled for her second hit of the game and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Brooklyn Millhollin (Peoria, Illinois) put the Scots in top 7-0 with a double before the Pioneers escaped the inning.

Grinnell loaded the bases in the third after two quick outs. A single and three straight walks scored a run and Kayleigh Cobb (Pawnee, Illinois) took over for Durdee. A groundout ended the threat as the Pioneers left the bases loaded. The Pioneers added another run in the fourth on a 2-out rally with two singles and an error but again left the bases loaded.

Monmouth added two more in the sixth inning. Alexis Hardy (Rushville, Illinois) started the rally with a single and was out at second on a fielders' choice that put Manners on base. Powers walked and Covey singled home a run for an 8-2 lead. Gerard put the Scots up 9-2 with a single to center and Millhollin added a single but the Scots left the bases loaded.

Grinnell plated 13 runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 15-10 lead. The first eight Pioneers had hits as they tied the game, 9-9. An error put Grinnell on top before the first out of the inning. A sacrifice fly and four more singles made it 14-9 and McKealey Klokkenga (Delavan, Illinois) took over for Cobb, Two more singles put the hosts on top 15-9 and capped a 13-run frame.

Liz Waymire (Havana, Illinois) led off the seventh with a single and she moved to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Manners doubled to right to cut the Grinnell lead to 15-10 but a ground out ended the game. Cobb (1-4) took the loss.

GAME TWO

Monmouth grabbed an early lead in game two as well. Ashby led off with a double and she moved to third on an infield single by Manners. The duo pulled off a double steal with Ashby swiping home for a 1-0 lead as Manners took second. However, three straight outs kept the lead at 1-0 after a half inning.

Grinnell tied the game against Addie Greene (Rushville, Illinois) in the bottom of the first inning with two singles and a groundout. They scored six times in the second with a leadoff walk and five straight 2-out hits. Four hits in the third inning made it 10-1 and Klokkenga took over in the circle. Another run gave the hosts an 11-1 lead and they added three more in the fourth on an error and three straight hits.

Down to their final outs, Monmouth got one run back in the fifth. Powers tripled home Manners for a 14-2 game but a strikeout enforced the run-rule and ended the contest. Greene (1-3) took the loss.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS:Ashby had two hits in both games and has four straight games with at least two hits and 11 multi-hit games on the season ... Ashby, Manners and Powers had hits in both games ... Manners and Powers had stolen bases in game one while Manners and Ashby had steals in game two ... Manners, Gerard and Millhollin had three hits each in game one ... Powers had two hits and two RBI in the opener white Covey had two hits and four RBI ... Monmouth had six doubles ana a triple on the day ... The Scots are 60-28 all-time against Grinnell but the Pioneers have won seven in a row and 10 of the last 12 ... The Scots play a DH at Ripon on Saturday and a DH at Lawrence on Sunday ... The next home game is a 1 p.m. DH against Illinois College on Friday, April 18.