The Lake Forest softball team took an early lead in the NCAA Division III Tournament against University of Redlands on Thursday but could not sustain it in a 13-5 defeat in St. Louis, Mo.
 
Third baseman Cadence Dempsey got the Foresters (28-15-1) off to a strong start in the top of the first inning. After leadoff hitter Kaia Mismash reached base on a single, Dempsey launched a two-run home run to left-center field to give Lake Forest the early 2-0 advantage.
 
For the junior from St. Louis, it was the 10th home run of the season for Dempsey. She is just the fourth player in school history to hit at least 10 home runs in a season, joining Christy Condon (who achieved the feat three times), Sally Snarski, and current Forester Kyla Chevalier.
 
Mismash and Chevalier were both constantly on the basepaths for Lake Forest, as both players went 3-for-3 on the game, with Mismash scoring a pair of runs.
 
After Redlands tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning, Lake Forest had a response to immediately retake the lead in the top of the third.
 
It was Mismash and the top of the lineup again making it happen for Lake Forest, as the sophomore center fielder led off the inning with a single. After stealing second base, Mismash came home on a Kelly Collins single to put Lake Forest up 3-2.
 
The Foresters used small ball to keep the rally going, as Emmie Nyen singled on a bunt to the pitcher, and Collins was able to come around to score on a Redlands error on the play. Chevalier then ripped a single back up through the middle to plate Nyen and push the Foresters' lead to 5-2.
 
Pitcher Riley Stiles (12-5) took the loss for Lake Forest. After not allowing a run in the first inning, Stiles allowed 10 runs in her 4 1/3 innings of work, with eight of those being earned runs. The junior walked a pair of batters and struck out one.
 
The Foresters will be back in action with their season on the line on Friday. Lake Forest will the regional hosts Washington University in St. Louis at 1:30 p.m. Friday.