Softball Splits with Blackburn; Inselmann Gets First Win

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (03/02/2025) — The Monmouth College softball team scored 17 runs on Saturday in a double header split against Blackburn in Chatham, Illinois. The Scots (1-3) lost the opening game 10-8 before winning the nightcap 9-2, the first career head coaching win for Tyler Inselmann.

The Scots got the offense going right away with hits from the first three batters. Karliegh Ashby (Monmouth, Illinois) doubled to start the game and Grace Wyman (Pekin, Illinois) singled. Shelby Covey (Peoria, Illinois) doubled for a 1-0 lead but the Scots left two on base.

Covey reached on an error to start the third and Savannah Powers (Volo, Illinois) made it 2-0 with a double. Kendall Lewis (Cambridge, Illinois) was hit by a pitch and both runners scored on a triple to center by Brooklyn Millhollin (Peoria, Illinois). Brooklyn Manners (Burleson, Texas) put the Scots up 5-0 with a single before the Beavers escaped the inning.

Blackburn got on the board against pitcher Lizzie Durfee (Arlington, Washington) in the third. They plated four runs as five straight batters reached with two outs, including a 2-run homer.

Ashby and Covey both singled in the sixth to put two on base with one out. Ashby scored on a wild pitch for a 6-4 lead but Blackburn got that run back in the bottom of the inning.

Monmouth added to the lead in the top of the sixth. Ashby reached on an error and scored on a double by Wyman. Covey singled and Powers put the Scots up 8-5 with a single to left, scoring Wyman.

Blackburn tied the game against reliever Addie Greene (Rushville, Illinois) in the bottom of the sixth on a walk, two errors and two singles. Blackburn won the game with a 2-run walk-off double in the seventh. Greene (0-1) took the loss despite allowing only two earned runs.

GAME 2

Blackburn used two errors to score twice in the bottom of the first inning of game two against Alyssa Hefflefinger (Olin, Iowa).

Monmouth bounced back to take the lead in the top of the third. Addie Narlock (Antioch, Illinois) led off with a single and Ashley Juerjens (Delavan, Illinois) walked. Ashby doubled to center to bring home both runners and tie the game. Wyman tripled for a 3-2 lead before the Scots left two runners on base.

Riley King (Aledo, Illinois) led off the fourth with a single and she stole second. With one out, King moved up on a passed ball and scored on another one for a 4-2 lead.

Covey singled with one out in the fifth. Maddie Hepner (Alexis, Illinois) put the Scots up 5-2 with a double to right and she stole third before Blackburn got out of the inning.

The Scots put the game away in the sixth. King led off with a double and Juerjens walked. Ashby made it 6-2 with a single and Wyman doubled home Juerjens. Mackenzie Gerard (Jacksonville, Illinois) doubled to center to plate both runners for a 9-2 lead.

Hefflefinger (1-1) closed out the game with two strikeouts in the seventh inning for her first win of the season. The complete game is the second of her career.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Ashby and Covey had three hits in game one while Wyman, Powers and Manners had two each ... Ashby tallied five hits and five runs scored on the day ... She is batting .571 (8-for-14) in four games this season with six runs scored ... Wyman had four hits and four RBI on the day ... Hepner had three hits in game two while King had two... Monmouth had 11 extra-base hits on the day, three by Wyman ... Durfee struck out five in the opener over three innings of work ... Hefflefinger also struck out five ... King, Millhollin and Gerard all had their first college hits on Saturday ... The Scots play a DH Sunday against Westminster ... The games have been moved to a turf field at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Missouri ... The home opener is March 18 against Illinois Wesleyan.