Softball Sweeps Ripon to Open MWC Play

Powers, Wyman Collect Five Hits Each on Saturday

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (04/14/2024) — The Monmouth College softball team opened Midwest Conference play on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep of Ripon College. In the home doubleheader the Scots won 6-4 and 11-9 to move to 2-0 in conference play with a 3-game overall win streak.

"Our fight today kept us in both games," said head coach Alexa McClaughry. "It allowed us to put some runs up against a team that got to us early."

Game one was scoreless bottom two when pitcher Alyssa Hefflefinger (Olin, Iowa) drew a two-out walk and stole second. Lillian Hucke (Aledo, Illinois) singled to put runners on the corners and Ripon was called for blocking the plate at home, allowing Hefflefinger to score on a double steal.

Savannah Powers (Volo, Illinois) singled to start the fourth and Jordan Lantz (Alexis, Illinois) singled. With one out, Hucke singled to load the bases and Powers scored on a groundout by Alexis Hardy (Rushville, Illinois). Karliegh Ashby (Monmouth, Illinois) walked to load the bases and Kendall Lewis (Cambridge, Illinois) was hit by a pitch for a 3-0 Scots lead. Grace Wyman (Pekin, Illinois) added another run with a single to left as Hucke scored.

Ripon scored three in the fifth before Kayleigh Cobb (Pawnee, Illinois) came on in relief of Hefflefinger to escape the inning with two left in scoring position. The Scots got a run back in the bottom of the inning as Powers singled and scored on an error for a 5-3 lead.

Up 5-4, the Scots scored again in the sixth. Lewis walked and was forced at second with Wyman reaching. Grace Goodrich (Lake Villa, Illinois) reached on an error and Wyman scored from first for a 6-4 lead.

Ripon threatened in the seventh with a leadoff single and a walk. Addison Steward (Danvers, Illinois), who got the final out of the sixth, induced a double play to third base to end the game.

Hefflefinger (1-9) earned the win with three runs allowed over 4 innings. Steward picked up the save with 1 shutout innings.

GAME TWO

Ripon scored eight runs in the second inning of game two for an 8-0 lead. The Scots started their comeback in the third. Hardy, Ashby and Wyman walked to load the bases with one out. An error plated Hardy before Powers doubled home two runs. Lantz singled to drive home Powers and cut the Ripon lead to 8-4.

Down 9-4 the Scots got the bats going again in the fifth. Powers doubled with one out and Lantz was hit by a pitch. Hucke singled with two down to plate Lantz and Hardy walked. Ashby singled to score two and Lewis tied the game 9-9 with a double to center. Wyman doubled after a pitching change to give the Scots a 10-9 lead.

"We talked a lot about adjustments and what we needed to do to put pressure on them," said McClaughry. "We get seven innings and we did what we needed to do to come back."

Powers walked to start the sixth and Addison Narlock (Antioch, Illinois) singled with one out. A passed ball moved both runners up and Powers scored on a single by Hucke. Ripon put two runners on base in the seventh before Steward took over for Cobb. She got three straight fly outs to end the game with an 11-9 Monmouth win..

"I'm really proud of this team today and what we have done recently," said McClaughry. "I'm excited to see what we do moving forward and doing what we need to do to take care of business against Lawrence."

Cobb (2-1) entered the game in the second inning and secured her second win of the week. She allowed two runs over 4 innings and struck out one. Steward retired all three batters she faced for sher second save of the day.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Lantz was hit by a pitch in game two and she leads the MWC with 13 HBP on the season... Lantz already holds the Monmouth single-season HBP record and the career record is 17... Wyman had three hits in game one and Powers had three hits in game two ... Powers, Lantz and Hucke all had two hits in the opener while Hucke and Ashby had two hits in game two ... Hucke has three straight 2-hit games ... Wyman, Hucke, Powers and Lantz had hits in both games ... Lewis and Wyman had RBI in both games ... Hefflefinger earned her first Monmouth win ... Steward has three career saves ... The Scots are 19-15 all-time against the Red Hawks and the teams split in Wisconsin last year ... Ripon has not won in Monmouth since 2017 ... Monmouth continues MWC action with a 1 p.m. DH at home on Sunday against Lawrence.