The Lake Forest softball team continued its run of winning ways Sunday with a doubleheader sweep on the road against Lawrence University.
 
The Foresters (22-13-1, 12-2 MWC) pushed their unbeaten streak to nine consecutive games, as Lake Forest rolled to a 4-0 win in game one, followed by a late seventh-inning comeback to bring home an 8-7 triumph in game two.
 
With Illinois College splitting its doubleheader to Grinnell College on Sunday, the Foresters moved into first place in the Midwest Conference standings with only two conference games remaining in the regular season.
 
Game 1: Lake Forest 4, Lawrence 0
Pitcher Riley Stiles was in control all day Saturday and pitched a complete-game shutout for the Foresters in their 4-0 win in game one.
 
Stiles allowed just five hits and struck out three Vikings. The third inning was one of only few Lawrence opportunities as the first two batters reached base, with runners at second and third. Stiles then induced a fly out, pop out, and ground out to get out of the jam unscathed.  
 
For the junior Stiles, it was her second shutout of the year and seventh complete game of the season.
 
The combination of juniors Cadence Dempsey and Emmie Nyen provided the offense for Lake Forest. Dempsey went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Nyen added three singles and drove in a pair of runs.
 
All three of Nyen's hits came via bunts, but they were extremely effective as Nyen scored Dempsey in the third inning.
 
In the seventh inning, after a Dempsey RBI triple to center field, the same combination struck again as a Nyen bunt single scored Dempsey to give the Foresters an insurance run and push the lead to 4-0.
 
Game 2: Lake Forest 8, Lawrence 7
In the second game, the Foresters jumped out to an early lead but still needed a rally in the seventh inning to pull out the 8-7 win over the Vikings.
 
Heading into the final inning of the game trailing 7-5, Lake Forest leaned on the heart of its lineup to come through in the clutch. Dempsey got the inning rolling with a double, followed by a single from senior Kelly Collins.
 
In a season that has seen Lake Forest steal more bases than any other in school history, the Foresters used their running game to perfection in the seventh, stealing four bases as a team in the frame, including a steal of home from Dempsey.
 
Cheyenne Pellettiere came off the bench as a pinch hitter and drove in the tying run of the game, then sophomore Paige Ratliff plated the go-ahead run on a sacrifice to give Lake Forest the lead.
 
Stiles (9-4) picked up her second win of the game by pitching the game's final three innings out of the bullpen. She continued to befuddle Lawrence hitters, striking out five while allowing just two hits and a pair of unearned runs. After Sunday's stellar effort, Stiles ERA sits at a team-low 2.12.
 
Dempsey and Nyen both contributed a pair of hits, as did junior Brooke Swiecki, who reached base three times by going 2-for-3 with a walk.
 
For the Foresters, the team will host its final home games of the season in their next outing on Tuesday afternoon against North Central College. Game one of the doubleheader will begin at 3 p.m.