Softball Drops Pair to Blackburn on Sunday

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill (03/25/2024) — The Monmouth College softball team.dropped a pair of non-conference home games on Saturday. The Scots lost to Blackburn 13-12 in nine innings in the opener and 8-3 in the nightcap.

The Scots jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first. Karliegh Ashby (Monmouth, Illinois) doubled but was out trying to stretch it to a triple. Lilian Hucke (Aledo, Illinois) singled, stole second and scored on a double by Grace Wyman (Pekin, Illinois).

Blackburn took the lead with a 2-run homer in the top of the second. Monmouth came back in the third to regain the lead. Ashby singled and stole second before Kendall Lewis (Cambridge, Illinois) walked with two outs. Jordan Lantz (Alexis, Illinois) drove in both runners with a double to right but she was out at third to end the inning.

The Beavers put two on the board in the top of the fourth to lead 4-3. Grace Goodrich (Lake Villa, Illinois) singled to left and Lantz singled. After a sacrifice bunt by Alyssa Hefflefinger (Olin, Iowa), Ashby singled to right to tie the game. Ashby stole second and Hucke drove in Lantz for a 5-4 Scots lead.

With the game tied, Blackburn hit a 3-run homer in the top of the seventh to go up 8-5. Wyman and Lewis both doubled with one out in the bottom of the seventh to make it 8-6. Powers singled and Lewis scored to make it 8-7. WIth two down and Powers on third, Lantz singled to right, tying the game.

Both teams scored once in the eighth and Blackburn plated four in the top of the ninth to lead 13-9, Powers delivered a sacrifice fly to score Hucke in the bottom and Goodrich homered to cut the Beavers lead to 13-12. The Beavers got the final out to secure the extra-inning win and Hefflefinger, who both started and finished the game, took the loss.

GAME TWO

Blackburn scored three runs in the first three innings of game two. After plating one in the second, they got a 2-run inside-the-park home run in the third. The Scots got on the board in the third as Alexis Hardy (Rushville, Illinois) and Ashby had consecutive triples. Ashby scored after a run down as Hucke reached on a fielders' choice. Lewis tied the game with a double to right-center.

Blackburn took control of the game with five runs in the top of the fifth, Monmouth didn't score again the rest of the way and starting pitcher Chelsea Herrick (Elgin, Illinois) took the loss.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Wyman had a hit in both games and has hit safely in six straightShe has extra-base hits in four of those gamesAshby, Hucke, Wyman, Lewis and Goodrich had hits in both gamesAshby and Hucke scored in both games and drove in rubens in both gamesLewis also had RBI in both gamesLewis, Ashby and Goodrich had extra-base hits in both gamesPowers drove in four runs in the openerAshby is 8-for-8 on stolen bases, leading the team in stealsAshby had a career-high three hits in game oneGoodrich hit her first collegiate home runMonmouth plays another home non-conference doubleheader on Friday at 3 p.m. against Luther