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Softball Drops Pair in Home Opener

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (03/22/2026) — The Monmouth College softball team returned to action Saturday with the home opener against Loras. The Fighting Scots (3-11) dropped the first game 8-2 and fell 6-2 in the second contest on a beautiful day on Monmouth's campus.

GAME ONE

The Duhawks took an early lead in game one with three in the top of the first against Alyssa Hefflefinger (Olin, Iowa). An error, a double and a 2-run homer put the visitors on top 3-0.

Down 4-0 in the third, Monmouth got on the board. Maddie Hepner (Alexis, Illinois) and Savannah Powers (Volo, Illinois) singled to load the bases and Graci Guenther (Pekin, Illinois) scored on a sacrifice fly by Mackenzie Gerard (Jacksonville, Illinois).

The Scots trailed 5-1 in the fifth when Powers led off with a single and moved to second on an error in right field. Elizabeth Waymire (Havana, Illinois) singled and Powers came home when the throw to third got away. Loras got out of the inning with a runner left at second and added a pair of runs in the sixth.

Karliegh Ashby (Monmouth, Illinois) led off the sixth with a single and Hepner doubled with two outs but the Scots left two in scoring position. Loras added one in the seventh against reliever Addie Greene (Rushville, Illinois) and the Scots went in order in the seventh.

Hefflefinger (1-3) took the loss as she allowed six earned runs on 12 hits over six innings. She struck out two and walked two. Greene allowed one run in one inning of work as she struck out one.

GAME TWO

:Loras scored a run off Lydia Overcash (Farmington, Illinois) in the first inning with three singles. They made it 4-0 in the second inning with a single, an error and two doubles as all three runs were unearned.

With the Scots down 5-0 in the fourth, Powers led off with a double and Gerard singled. With two outs, Hefflefinger drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases and Ashby singled home a run. However, a grounder ended the inning with the bases left loaded.

Loras led 6-1 in the sixth when Waymire was hit by a pitch and she moved to second on a sac bunt by Ariel Martinez (Galesburg, Illinois). Alexis Hardy (Rushville, Illinois) singled to load the bases and Waymire scored on a sacrifice fly by Ashby. Neither team scored in the seventh as Loras finished off the 6-2 win.

Overcash (1-3) took the loss as she allowed three earned runs on 12 hits over six innings. In her first home start, the freshman walked two and struck out two. Green threw a shutout and hitless inning with a walk. .

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Hepner, Powers, Ashby and Hardy had hits in both games ... Powers had two hits in both games and also scored in both games ... She had two doubles in game two while Hepner had a double in both games ... Hepner has seven multi-hit games on the season and Powers has five ... With her 24th career stolen base, Ashby moved into a tie with Jane Campagna for sixth on the Scots career list ... Overcash has gone six innings in two straight starts ... Hefflefinger has thrown six innings twice this season and at least five innings in four of of her five outings ,,, The Scots and Duhawks have not met since 1996 ... Loras leads the all-time series 3-0Monmouth is next in action on Wednesday when they travel to Illinois Wesleyan for a 3 p.m. DH ... The next home game is the MWC opener against Lake Forest on Friday, April 3

Media Attachments

Game 1 box

Game 2 box

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