The Forester softball team routed visiting Knox College 10-0 and 10-1 on Saturday (April 24). Both games lasted just five innings. Lake Forest is now 20-10-1 overall this season and 10-1 in Midwest Conference play. The victory in the opener clinched the Foresters' right to host the 2010 MWC Championship Tournament May 7-8. The Prairie Fire fell to 6-22 overall and 1-10 in the league.

Freshman pitcher Jordan Ratliff (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield) made Lake Forest College softball history in game one by tossing the first perfect game and 12th no-hitter in the program's 32 years. She struck out four batters and induced nine groundouts in the game. Ratliff is now 10-4 on the season with a 1.50 earned run average.

The home team took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman second baseman Megan Harkins (Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) led off with a base hit down the left field line and advanced to second when the outfielder misplayed the ball. She then stole third base and scored on a single by sophomore right fielder Danielle Gore (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey).

Senior catcher Jill Pfund (Morenci, Mich./Morenci) hit a two-out double down the left field line in the second and scored on a single up the middle by senior center fielder Sam Pinsoneault (Manchester, N.H./New Hampton).

Three other Forester seniors scored in the third inning. Shortstop Tracy Rainey (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) led off the frame with a single and left fielder Jeanette Andresen (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South) doubled with two outs. First baseman Shelby Neill (Manitou Beach, Mich./Lenawee Christian) then belted her first home run of the season to make the score 5-0.

Harkins bunted for a hit with one out the bottom of the fourth inning, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and then scored on a double by Rainey. An error allowed senior third baseman Mallory Norton (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) to reach second base and Rainey to score the second run of the inning. Freshman designated player Nikki Miller (Starkville, Miss./Starkville Academy) singled up the middle to score Norton and Andresen followed with her fourth home run of the season.

While game two had a lopsided final score, Lake Forest's lead was just 1-0 after three innings of play. Sophomore Cami Daun (Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan North) pitched held the Prairie Fire scoreless on just one hit in the first three frames but back-to-back doubles to start the fourth inning put runners on second and third. Freshman Molly Thomsen (Rumford, R.I./St. Mary Academy) relieved Daun and the next two batters hit ground balls back to the pitcher. The second comebacker ended the inning when the runner on third base tried to score but Neill's throw from first was in time for the out. Daun earned her first victory of the season and Thomsen her first career save.

Harkins scored the Foresters' first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. She had an infield single and immediately took second when she saw that that the base was uncovered. She later scored on a two-out single by Norton.

After escaping the top of the fourth without allowing a run, the home team plated five in the bottom of the frame. Andresen walked and scored on Neill's second home run of the day and season. Base hits by Pfund and Pinsonneault were followed by another bunt single by Harkins to load the bases. Pfund and Pinsonneault scored on a throwing error by Knox and Harkins came home on a fielder's choice groundout by Rainey.

The Prairie Fire scored an unearned run in the top of the fifth. Freshman Mary Glowacz (Chicago, Ill./William H. Taft) reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the frame, stole second, advanced to third on an infield single by Neill, and scored on a wild pitch. Pfund drew a walk in the inning and scored, along with Neill, on a game-ending home run by freshman Aubrey Pendegraft (Creston, Iowa/Creston). It was the first round-tripper of her career.

The Foresters are scheduled to host a doubleheader against Grinnell College tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. Live Stats will be available on the Lake Forest College Athletics Web site.