Lady Blues Cruise to Sweep in MWC Opener

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College softball team opened the Midwest Conference portion of the season in a big way, sweeping Lawrence on Friday at Jessica Kamp Field.

IC took the opener, 9-0 in five innings, and followed with a 13-2 five-inning victory in the nightcap.

The Lady Blues are now 15-9 overall and 2-0 in Midwest Conference play. Lawrence is 7-13 and 0-2.

Game 1: IC 9 LU 0 (5 innings)
Jordan Closs was dominant in the circle, tossing a no-hitter with three strikeouts.

Closs got all the support she needed in the second inning when Ezzy Mauermann smoked a double that scored Shelby Seiler and Kendall Cole. 

The Lady Blues padded the advantage in the third inning with three runs. Cole stroked a single to score Alivia Darbe and Gabby Miller before pinch runner Allison Fraley scored on a Lawrence error.

IC put the game away with three in the fourth. Mauermann led off with a solo inside-the-park home run before Darby later drilled a two-run triple that plated Alyssa Teixeira and Raegan Rezba. Cole singled to score Darbe to close out the scoring.

Cole had three hits to pace the offense while Mauermann and Darbe each had two. 

Game 2: IC 13 LU 2 (5 innings)
After the Vikings opened the game with two runs in the first, IC unloaded for 13 unanswered scores to get the victory.

Cole opened the onslaught with a two-run double in the bottom of the first. The Lady Blues exploded for six runs in the second as Bella Thien smacked a two-run triple and scored on a Miller fielder's choice. Darbe drove home two more with a triple and came home when Cole grounded out to end scoring in the inning.

IC put four more on the board in the third inning. Cambria Currie scored on a wild pitch, Adams had a sacrifice fly and Darby drilled a two-run double. The Lady Blues wrapped up the contest with two more runs in the fourth. Raegan Rezba scored on a Lawrence throwing error, and then Mauermann stroked an RBI triple to close out the scoring for the day.

Darby had two hits and four RBI to pace the nine-hit IC attack. Avery Fritz earned the victory in the circle, working the first four innings and allowing two runs on a hit with three strikeouts. Currie pitched the final frame, allowing a hit while recording a strikeout.

Up Next
IC is back at home tomorrow as it hosts Ripon for a Midwest Conference doubleheader. First pitch at Jessica Kamp Field is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.