Sangamon Sun

Illinois College's Lady Blues softball team concluded their 2023 season after competing in the Midwest Conference (MWC) Tournament. The event took place over the weekend, where the Lady Blues secured a victory against Lake Forest, advancing them to the championship game against Grinnell.

In their first match, Illinois College triumphed over Lake Forest with a score of 4-2. Calynn Gicante played a pivotal role by pitching five innings and achieving four strikeouts. She also contributed offensively by going two for three at bat with one RBI. Claudia Adam supported the team's effort by scoring one run and securing two RBIs.

The Lady Blues established an early lead in this game by scoring three runs in the second inning. A single from Gicante brought Kiya Hagene home, sealing their win against Lake Forest.

The championship game against Grinnell was affected by weather conditions, resulting in a relocation from Jessica Kamp Softball Field to Future Champions Complex due to a rain delay. The tightly contested match saw both teams tied at 4-4 at the end of seven innings. Grinnell eventually claimed victory with a base hit in the bottom of the eighth inning, winning 5-4.

Kayla Serpa led Illinois College offensively during this game, going two for three at bat with one RBI. Julia Drake pitched throughout the entire 7.2 innings for Illinois College, recording four strikeouts.

The Lady Blues ended their season with an overall record of 25 wins, 16 losses, and one tie.