After being held to just three runs in their previous three games combined, the Lake Forest softball team brought plenty of offense Saturday in a doubleheader sweep of Grinnell College.
The Foresters (10-10) scored early and often in a 15-1 victory in game one, then followed a similar script for a 12-4 win in game two. The pair of wins snapped a four-game losing streak for Lake Forest.
Game 1: Lake Forest 15, Grinnell 1
The Foresters started Midwest Conference play with a repeat matchup of last season's conference championship game, however, Saturday was a much different result for Lake Forest, as the Foresters earned a 15-1 triumph.
A two-out rally in the first inning got the Foresters' offense rolling. Junior
Kyla Chevalier doubled, scoring
Emmie Nyen and
Cadence Dempsey to plate the first runs of the game. The next batter, senior
Cheyenne Pellettiere, launched a two-run home run to give the Foresters a 4-0 lead.
The Foresters wouldn't stop there, however. Lake Forest added two more runs in the second inning behind a two-run homer from Dempsey to extend the margin to 6-0. Lake Forest would add another run in the third and tacked on four runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings.
Chevalier finished the game 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Dempsey matched her by batting 3-for-3 as well. Sophomore
Paige Ratliff also added three RBI for the Foresters.
Brooke Challe (2-1) grinded her way through the Grinnell lineup, despite not having her best control. Challe earned the win by allowing just one run in her five innings of work and was able to maneuver around her six walks allowed. Challe stranded seven Pioneers on base for the game to ensure Grinnell would make no comeback.
Game 2: Lake Forest 12, Grinnell 4
Much like the first contest of the day, Lake Forest made an immediate impression on the game with a high-scoring first inning, powering the Foresters to a 12-4 victory.
Leadoff hitter
Kaia Mismash was constantly on base, as the sophomore was 4-for-5 for the game, while senior
Kaylee Purgatorio was 3-for-4 with a team-high four RBI.
With a pair of runners in scoring position, Nyen fired a single back through the middle, scoring Mismash. The Foresters then pulled off a double steal, as
Kelly Collins stole home, while Nyen stole second base to push the lead to 2-0.
The heart of the Foresters' lineup continued to do damage as Chevalier tripled to right field to score Nyen, and Pellettiere brought Chevalier home on a single through the middle to give Lake Forest the 4-0 advantage.
Chevalier continued to be a puzzle that Grinnell could not solve as the junior contributed an RBI double in the third inning and brought home Dempsey on a groundout in the fifth inning.
After setting the school record for RBI in a season last season, Chevalier's 18 RBI in 2025 only trails Nyen for the team lead.
Just when the hosts scored three runs in the fifth inning to make a push to get back into the game, Purgatorio calmed the situation with a pair of insurance runs via a two-run homer in the sixth inning to give Lake Forest an 8-4 lead. The Foresters tacked on an additional four more runs in the top of the seventh to finish the game.
Morgan Traxinger earned the start for Lake Forest in the circle and allowed just one run in her 3 2/3 innings pitched. Game one's winner Challe (3-1) closed out the game for the Foresters with 2 1/3 scoreless innings pitched and picked up her second win of the day.
The Foresters will continue their initial road trip of the conference schedule Sunday, as Lake Forest plays at Cornell College for a pair of games. The first pitch of game one will be at 1:00 p.m.
