Sangamon Sun

The Illinois College softball team began their Midwest Conference season with a successful sweep against Lawrence, winning 13-0 and 7-5 on Tuesday at Miron Construction Field, St. Norbert. This victory improved IC's record to 7-16 overall and 2-0 in conference play, while Lawrence fell to 6-12 and 0-2.

In the first game, Julia Drake pitched a no-hitter, leading the Lady Blues to a decisive win with eight strikeouts and retiring 16 of the 19 batters she faced. Cheyenne Anderson initiated the scoring with a two-run double in the first inning. Jaycie Edwards and Brooke Loveall contributed RBI singles, followed by additional runs from Edwards and Taylor Henry in the second inning. The third inning saw IC extend their lead with six more runs, including contributions from Allison Mortland, Edwards, and Elysia Hand. Edwards capped off her performance with an RBI single in the fifth inning.

Edwards went 4-for-4 with five RBIs, while Henry had three hits in four at-bats. Anderson and Hand each drove in two runs for IC.

In the second game, IC scored seven consecutive runs before holding off a late rally from Lawrence. The Lady Blues scored initially when Hand singled home Henry in the second inning. A significant sixth inning included RBIs from Emma Hardiek, Mortland, Calynn Gicante, and Anderson.

Lawrence responded with five runs in their half of the sixth but could not overcome IC's lead as Hannah Crouch secured the win by pitching 5 2/3 innings. Taylor Henry provided relief pitching before Drake closed out the seventh inning for her first save of the season.

Mortland and Gicante each drove in two runs for IC's offense. Gincante, Anderson, Henry, and Hand all recorded two hits each.

The Lady Blues will continue their conference play tomorrow with a doubleheader against Ripon starting at 1:00 p.m.