Softball Sweeps Grinnell with Walk-Off Win

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (04/26/2026) — The Monmouth College softball team celebrated Senior Day by sweeping Grinnell 8-0 and 5-4 on Saturday. The Fighting Scots (15-21, 8-6) are now guaranteed of their best season since 2018 and will host IC Friday with a chance to make the MWC Tournament.

GAME ONE

Karliegh Ashby (Monmouth, Illinois) led off with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt. With two down, Mackenzie Gerard (Jacksonville, Illinois) singled for a 1-0 lead before she was stranded at third.

With Alyssa Hefflefinger (Olin, Iowa) keeping Grinnell off the board, Maddie Hepner (Alexis, Illinois) led off the second with a single. Elizabeth Waymire (Havana, Illinois) doubled and both runners scored on a double by Alexis Hardy (Rushville, Illinois). Ashby made it three doubles in a row as the Scots took a 4-0 lead. Ashby stole third and scored on a single by Savannah Powers (Volo, Illinois).

Hepner reached on an error in the third and Waymire walked. Ashby made it 6-0 with a 2-out double before a wild pitch and another error scored two more.

Hefflefinger (5-8) closed out her fifth complete game and first shutout of the season. She allowed just two hits over five innings with no walks.

GAME TWO

Grinnell scored first in the top of the first with two hits against Elizabeth Durfee (Arlington, Washington). Ashby was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the first and she moved to third on a sac bunt. Powers drove home Ashby, tying the game 1-1.

Hardy and Ashby both walked in the third and Ella Cunningham (Dunlap, Illinois) reached on an error. Powers singled home another run and Gerard was hit by a pitch as Hardy scored for a 3-1 lead. Cunningham scored on a fielders' choice with Hepner picking up a RBI.

Grinnell tied the game in the top of the seventh. A single and walk put two on with one out and
Lydia Overcash (Farmington, Illinois) took over for Durfee. A single and an error made it 4-2 and a pinch-hit single brought in another run. Grinnell tied the groundout but left two runners in scoring position.

Neither team threatened in the eighth and Grinnell left runners at second and third in the ninth. With two outs in the 10th, Hepner singled and Graci Guenther (Pekin, Illinois) added a single. Waymire delivered a walk-off single for the 5-4 win.

Overcash (6-4) picked up the win with one unearned run allowed on five hits over 3 2/3 innings. Durfee allowed three runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings while walking two and striking out three.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Powers, Hepner and Waymire had hits in both games ... Powers and Gerard had RBI in both gamesWaymire had a double in both games ... Ashby, Hepner and Hardy scored runs in both games ... Hefflefinger has 13 career complete games, 10 wins and three shutouts ... Ashby moved into a tie for fifth in career doubles and 14th in total hits ... She is tied for sixth in career hit by pitches ... Powers is tied for 10th on the single-season RBI list ... Ashby moved into a tie for sixth on the single-season runs list, eighth on the single-season steals list and eighth on the hits list ... The other shutout for the Scots came against Rivier in Florida in MarchThe 15 wins are the most for a Monmouth softball team since the 2018 team went 20-16 ,,, The Scots snapped a 7-game losing streak against Grinnell dating back to April 2, 2022 ... Monmouth leads the all-time series 63-27 ... The Scots are off until Friday when they host MWC leading Illinois College for a 3 p.m. double header.