Softball Splits DH With Defending MWC Champions

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (04/03/2026) — The Monmouth College softball team started Midwest Conference play with a DH split against defending champion Lake Forest on Saturday. After a 10-2 game one loss, the Fighting Scots (5-16, 1-1) beat the Foresters for the first time since 2022 with a 4-1 win.

"What a great win for us and this program," said head coach Heather Turnquist. "I'm very proud of the girls and today was a huge team win with important contributions from everyone. To start conference play like this gives us confidence and something to build on.

GAME ONE

Lake Forest scored against pitcher Alyssa Hefflefinger (Olin, Iowa) in the top of the third. After a 1-out single and walk, a home run to left put the Foresters on top 3-0.

They broke the game open in the fifth after the inning started with a Monmouth error. A passed ball, and two singles made it 5-0 before Addie Greene (Rushville, Illinois) took over in the circle. Three more singles made it 8-0 and LFC added a run on a sacrifice fly. They made it 10-0 with another hit before leaving the bases loaded.

Maddie Hepner (Alexis, Illinois) led off the fifth with a walk and Meaghan Carpenter (Hanna City, Illinois) pinch ran. Mackenzie Gerard (Jacksonville, Illinois) singled and Carpenter scored on a wild pitch. Brooklyn Millhollin (Peoria, Illinois) singled home Gerard to make it 10-2 but LFC got out ot the inning to end the game on the run rule.

Hefflefinger (1-6) took the loss as she allowed six earned runs on six hits over four innings. She struck out four and walked two. Greene allowed two three runs on five hits and a walk in one inning of work.

GAME TWO

Lake Forest took a 1-0 lead against starting pitcher Elizabeth Durfee (Arlington, Washington) in the top of the second with a solo home run. Gerard led off the bottom of the second with a single and she moved up on a sac bunt by Brooklyn Millhollin (Peoria, Illinois). Elizabeth Waymire (Havana, Illinois) walked and both runners moved up on a sac bunt by Kerigan Lewis (Cambridge, Illinois). Karliegh Ashby (Monmouth, Illinois) doubled to bring home both runners and give the Scots a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth inning, Brooklyn Millhollin (Peoria, Illinois) singled with one out and Waymire launched her second home run of the season for a 4-1 lead. Lake Forest started the sixth with a single but the Scots got out of the inning on a double play to center field, started by Alexis Hardy (Rushville, Illinois) as the Forester ended up with two runners at second base.

Durfee (3-3) earned the win with one run allowed on four hits over six innings while striking out one. Lydia Overcash (Farmington, Illinois) picked up the save with three shutout innings. She struck out one and allowed three hits.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Ashby Gerard and Millhollin had hits in both games ,,, Ashby had two hits in game two, her 10th multi-hit game of the season ,,, Waymire had her fourth multi-RBI game and second this week ... Ashby has five multi-RBI games after driving in two in game two ,,, Hefflefinger joins Durfee with 100 career strikeouts ,,, Overcash posted her first career save ... Lake Forest leads the all-time series 50-22 ,,, Monmouth's game two win snapped a 9-game losing streak to LFC dating back to April 2022 ,,, The games were played in East Peoria after all the rain in Monmouth this week ... Saturday's double header against Beloit has also been moved and the Scots will play in Wisconsin at 1 p.m. ... Senior Day, scheduled for Saturday, will be rescheduled.