Sangamon Sun

The Illinois College women's softball team secured a sixth consecutive victory with a doubleheader sweep against Beloit at Jessica Kamp Field. The Lady Blues improved their Midwest Conference record to 6-0, elevating their overall season record to 11-16. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers dropped to 3-21 and remain winless in conference play.

In the first game, senior pitcher Julia Drake delivered an impressive performance with a two-hit shutout and 12 strikeouts. This marked her sixth win of the season and third within the week. Since Tuesday, Drake has allowed only three hits over 18 innings, amassing 30 strikeouts alongside three wins and a save.

The scoreless game was broken in the fourth inning when Taylor Henry drove in Cheyenne Anderson with a single. Lucy Snow scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead, followed by Claudia Adam scoring after a Beloit error in the fifth inning. Henry led with two hits and one RBI for Illinois College.

The second game saw Illinois College dominate early with six runs in the second inning. Elysia Hand contributed a two-run single that brought home Henry and Anderson. Adam and Allison Mortland then hit consecutive triples, driving in additional runs. The Lady Blues added single runs in both the fourth and fifth innings through efforts from Hand and Lizzie Snow.

Hannah Crouch started on the mound for Illinois College, allowing one run over five innings while striking out seven batters to secure her fourth win of the season. Henry closed out with four strikeouts across two innings.

Adam recorded three hits and three RBIs while Hand added two hits, two RBIs, and scored twice during this offensive display.

Illinois College will face Lake Forest next as they continue their conference play tomorrow at home, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.