The Lake Forest softball team struggled to find offense in a doubleheader against the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. On a chilly, blustery day at Mohr Field with the wind blowing in from center field, the Foresters lost game one, 2-1, before dropping the finale, 4-2.
 
Game 1: UW-Stevens Point 2, Lake Forest 1
Despite both teams scoring in the first inning, game one would feature strong pitching performances from both sides. An unearned run would prove to be the difference in the game as the Foresters (8-10) came up short, 2-1.
 
Junior Riley Stiles (5-2) took the loss as the starting pitcher for Lake Forest. She pitched the complete game, scattering six hits, and allowed two runs (one earned), while striking out three.
 
Thursday marked the fourth time this season that Stiles has pitched at least seven innings in a game. In her seven appearances this season, Stiles has allowed one earned run or fewer in five of those games.
 
The Foresters relied upon small ball and the speed of leadoff hitter Kaia Mismash to plate a run after falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first. The sophomore reached on a bunt single to open the game, then stole second and third base to put herself in scoring position. Mismash would be brought home by Kelly Collins, who knocked in her 6th RBI of the season on an RBI groundout.
 
After UW-Stevens Point took the 2-1 lead on a throwing error, the Foresters' best offensive opportunity down the stretch came in the fifth inning, as Brooke Swiecki drew a two-out walk, then Kaylee Purgatorio followed that up with a single. A double steal put the go-ahead run on second base, but Mismash would strike out to end the inning.
 
Game 2: UW-Stevens Point 4, Lake Forest 2
In game two, the Foresters again found themselves in an early hole before battling back to tie the game in the fourth inning. Ultimately, it was UW-Stevens Point that broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to take the 4-2 victory.
 
Senior Hannah Smith (1-4) pitched all seven innings for Lake Forest. She allowed 10 hits, four runs (three earned), and walked and struck out a pair each.
 
After UW-Stevens Point took an early 2-0 lead after the top of the third inning, the Foresters clawed their way back into the game. Purgatorio ripped a triple to right field to lead off the bottom of the third before she scored on an RBI groundout from Mismash.
 
After the Pointers were set down in order in the fourth, Kyla Chevalier reached on a single and Cheyenne Pellettiere crushed a ground-rule double to center field to keep the line moving. Lia Taglia then bunted, and Chevalier was physical sliding into home plate from third base, and the Pointers' catcher could not hold onto the ball through the tag to tie the game up.
 
With the bases loaded and just one out, Purgatorio popped out to shortstop, and Mismash struck out to extinguish the rally and keep the score tied 2-2.
 
The Pointers used four singles in the top of the seventh to finally break through and take a 4-2 lead that the Foresters would not recover from.
 
Lake Forest will dive into Midwest Conference play this weekend, as the Foresters travel to Iowa for a pair of doubleheaders. Lake Forest plays a pair of games at Grinnell College on Saturday before taking on Cornell College for a doubleheader on Sunday.