JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College softball team posted a pair of victories over Lake Forest to win the 2026 Midwest Conference Tournament on Saturday at Jessica Kamp Field.
The Lady Blues nipped the Foresters, 3-2, in the semifinal and then rolled to a 9-1, 5-inning victory in the title game. This is IC's first conference tournament title since 2022.
The Lady Blues, who also won the MWC regular season title and were the top-seed in the tournament, are now 33-10 overall. They will represent the MWC in the 2026 NCAA Division III Championships and will learn their tournament opponents and destination on Monday at 10:00 a.m.
Semifinal: IC 3 Lake Forest 2
The Lady Blues got all the runs they would need in the first inning. IC's first three batters all reached base, including the third hitter,
Alivia Darbe, who drilled a two-run triple to score
Gabby Miller and
Maddie Adams. Darbe then stole home for the pivotal third run.
The Foresters got two runs back in the fourth but could not dent the scoreboard again. IC's pitching trio of
Cambria Currie,
Avery Fritz, and
Jordan Closs kept Lake Forest at bay. Currie started and went three innings, allowing both runs on just two hits with three strikeouts. Fritz, who picked up the win, went 3.1 innings, allowing just two hits with three strikeouts. Closs came in with one out in the seventh inning and retired Lake Forest on just two pitches to earn her first career save.
Miller and Currie each had a pair of hits for the IC offense.
Championship: IC 9 Lake Forest 1 (5 innings)
IC exploded out of the gate, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Adams got things going when she scored off a Forester error.
Kendall Cole had an RBI single before
Bella Thien stroked a two-run triple. Currie closed out the flurry with an RBI single.
The Lady Blues added another run in the third when Thien scored off a Lake Forest error. The Foresters got one back in the fourth before IC put the game away with three more in its half of the fourth. Adams scored on a misplay by Lake Forest, and then
Brooke Loveall unloaded on a fastball for a two-run home run that plated Alyssa Teixeria.
Closs did the rest in the circle, earning her 15th victory by working five innings with a run on four hits and four strikeouts.
Once again, Currie paced the offense, going 3-for-3. Adams and Loveall each had a pair of hits as well.
Blue Notes
IC's 33 wins are a school single-season record (four teams set the previous record of 25)… IC has now won 20 of its last 22 contests, and 14 of those victories have been shutouts… this is IC's first MWC Tournament title since 2022.
Up Next
The Lady Blues will play in the 2026 NCAA Division III Championships, which take place next weekend. IC will learn its tournament destination and opponents on Monday at 10:00 a.m.
