Sangamon Sun

The Illinois College Lady Blues softball team achieved victories against Cornell College in a doubleheader contest at the Van Metre Family Softball Field in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. The victories, with scores of 5-0 and 7-1, extended the Lady Blues’ winning streak to eight games and improved their overall record to 21-15, including a 10-2 record in conference play. Cornell, on the other hand, now has a record of 10-18 and 2-7 in the conference.

In the first game, Illinois College's pitcher Jordan Closs played a pivotal role, maintaining a shutout for seven innings while striking out four and giving up four hits. The team took an early lead in the first inning with Taylor Henry hitting an RBI double and later scoring on a single by Kendall Cole. Brooke Loveall’s sacrifice fly in the fifth inning increased the lead, and further runs in the sixth sealed the win.

Henry, Cole, and Delaney Melton each contributed two hits to the team's successful game one efforts.

In the second matchup, Illinois College scored three runs early in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Halie Williams. Williams drove in another run in the third inning. A two-run double by Kayla Serpa in the fourth inning further solidified the win. Henry pitched the complete second game, allowing only one run on four hits and striking out five. Alongside her pitching, Henry, Williams, and Loveall each recorded two hits.

The games were relocated to Mt. Vernon due to wet grounds and expected rain in Jacksonville. The Lady Blues plan to continue their conference play with a game against Knox College on Tuesday in a doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.