Sangamon Sun

The Illinois College softball team achieved its first conference sweep of the season by defeating Lawrence in two games at Jessica Kamp Field. In the initial match, the Lady Blues secured a 10-2 victory in six innings, followed by a narrow 4-3 win in the second game.

With these victories, the Lady Blues now have an overall record of 12-12 and a conference record of 3-1. The Lawrence Vikings' record stands at 7-16 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

In Game 1, the Lady Blues maintained a strong lead throughout, scoring two runs in the second inning and adding more in subsequent innings. Taylor Henry made a significant contribution by going 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Brooke Loveall also stood out, driving in four runs with her pair of hits. The Lady Blues' pitching was led by Jordan Closs, who delivered an impressive performance by allowing only three hits and striking out seven batters, improving her season record to 5-2.

In Game 2, after falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the Lady Blues made a comeback in the fifth inning. Loveall walked with the bases loaded to bring in the first run, followed by a three-run double from Henry to give the Lady Blues a lead. Henry also contributed from the pitcher's circle, as she pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and one earned run, earning her second victory. Avery Fritz closed the game, achieving her first save of the season.

Looking ahead, the Lady Blues are set to play their first road game of the season against WashU in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday.