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May 3, 2008 at MWC Tournament, Lake Forest, Ill.
Lake Forest 11, Monmouth 6 (13-15)
The Scots didn't go quietly in an 11-6 elimination game loss to Lake
Forest. Monmouth spotted the Foresters six runs in the first inning and
trailed 9-0 before rallying in the fourth on an Emily Willems
grand slam, her second of the season. Willems went 3-for-4. Kembra
Bell collected three hits and an RBI. Amanda Murdock suffered
the loss as the Scots made their first Midwest Conference tournament
appearance since 2004. May 3, 2008 at MWC Tournament,
Lake Forest, Ill.
St. Norbert 7, Monmouth 0 (13-14)
Monmouth couldn't find an answer to a St. Norbert two-run homer in
the bottom of the fourth inning, dropping their opening round game 7-0.
The Scots managed four hits in the game, two by senior Kristin
Bickett. Sarah Christensen suffered the loss to fall to 7-6.
April 27, 2008 vs. Grinnell College at Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 5 (12-13, 4-3), Grinnell 4
Monmouth 6, (13-13, 5-3), Grinnell 2
The Scots swept Grinnell 5-4, 6-2 and showed a flair for the
dramatic with a seventh inning rally in Game 1 to earn their first
Midwest Conference Tournament berth since 2004. Grinnell broke a 1-1 tie
with three runs in the top of the seventh, but the Scots responded with
four of their own in their half of the inning. After pinch runner
Kendra Ricketts scored on a ground out and pinch hitter Jill
Hennenfent lofted a sacrifice fly to score Erin Fitzpatrick,
Emily Willems' third hit of the game, a two out double scored
Ashley Parer to tie the game at 4-4. Willems then scored the winning
run from second when Anna Coutts' ground ball was mishandled,
giving the Scots a trip the the MWC Tournament in coach John Goddard's
first year at the helm. Sarah Christensen struck out nine in the
complete game win. Amanda Murdock cruised to the win in the
nightcap, scattering nine hits and striking out five. Monmouth used a
four run fourth to put the game out of reach. Pinch hitter Maggie
Dort drove in two runs with a base hit and then scored on a wild
pitch to give the Scots a comfortable lead.
April 23, 2008 vs. Augustana College at Rock Island, Ill.
Monmouth 1 (11-12, 2-3), Augustana 0
Augustana 3,
Monmouth 1 (11-13, 3-3)
Monmouth pushed their win streak to seven with a 1-0 win over
Augustana in the opener, but the longest streak since an eight game run
in 2001 came to a halt in a 3-1 loss in the nightcap. Maggie Dort
scored Game 1's only run, scampering home when Kristen Bickett's
sac bunt was mishandled in the sixth inning. Ashley Tocha picked
up the win in relief of starter Sarah Christensen who surrendered
just two hits in four innings. Val Mitchell worked the seventh to
earn the save. The Vikings pushed two runs across in the sixth of the
nightcap to pull out a 3-1 win. Bickett scored the Scots' lone run in
the second inning, coming home when Ashley Parer was hit by a
pitch with the bases loaded to give Monmouth an early 1-0 lead.
Augustana tied the game with a two-out solo homer in the third. Mitchell
suffered the loss in relief of Amanda Murdock who struck out four
and scattered three hits over four innings. Erin Fitzpatrick
picked up three hits on the night for the Scots. April 16, 2008 vs. Illinois College at Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 3 (9-12, 2-3), Illinois College 1
Monmouth 9 (10-12, 3-3), Illinois College 1
The Fighting Scots continued their hot streak and inched closer to
their first Midwest Conference tournament berth since 2004 with a 3-1,
9-1 sweep of Illinois College. Sarah Christensen earned the win
in the Game 1 pitchers' dual, scattering 10 hits and only allowing a
single run in the sixth. A pair of freshmen gave Monmouth the lead in
the fifth when Haley Lyons' base hit drove in Erin Fitzpatrick.
The Lady Blues tied the game in the sixth, but Monmouth answered in the
seventh. After a walk to Kristin Bickett and Fitzpatrick's second
hit of the game, pinch hitter Val Mitchell blasted a two-run
double to the center field fence for the winning margin. Amanda
Murdock got plenty of support in picking up the Game 2 win. Monmouth
jumped on IC for five runs in the first inning. Lyons again provided the
spark with a bases-clearing double for her second, third and fourth RBIs
of the day. Maggie Dort, who had four RBIs in the game, supplied
the second inning fireworks, driving in three runs with her home run
that sailed over the center field scoreboard. Fitzpatrick added a solo
homer in the third to round out the onslaught. Murdock pitched out of a
bases loaded jam in back-to-back innings to complete the sweep. The
Scots, who are riding a six-game win streak, are in sole possession of
second place in the MWC South Division. April 14, 2008 vs. St. Norbert at Janesville, Wis.
Monmouth 9 (8-12, 1-3), St. Norbert 0
Facing the No. 1 ranked team in the Midwest Conference's North
Division didn't intimidate the Fighting Scots in their 9-0 shutout of
St. Norbert. The Scots picked up an unearned run in the second inning
and followed that with two runs in the third to take a 3-0 lead.
Monmouth blew the game wide open with six runs in the fifth to win via
the mercy rule. Haley Lyons' three run triple supplied the big
blow. Emily Willems' single then plated Lyons for the final
margin. Sarah Christensen pitched four innings for the
run-shortened win.
April 14, 2008 vs. Ripon at Janesville, Wis.
Monmouth 7 (7-12, 1-3), Ripon 6
Monmouth used Emily Willems' second inning grand slam to
propel the Scots to a 7-6 win over Ripon. The Red Hawks took a 1-0 lead
with an unearned run in the first before The Scots' Val Stier and
Ashley Parer induced a pair of two out walks to give Monmouth
hope in second inning. Maggie Scudella's base hit loaded the
bases for Willems who jacked a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence to
give Monmouth a lead they would not surrender. With the Scots leading
7-6 in the seventh, Sarah Christensen was summoned from the bull
pen to record the final out and earn the save. Amanda Murdock
earned the win, pitching around three Scots errors and not allowing an
earned run until the seventh. The Scots gunned down two runners at the
plate in the win.
April 14, 2008 vs. Lawrence at Janesville, Wis.
Monmouth 6 (6-12, 1-3), Lawrence 0
The Scots' Emily Willems went 4-for-4, Kristin Bickett
blasted a two run homer, Maggie Dort drove in three runs and
Sarah Christensen fanned eight in the Fighting Scots' 6-0 blanking
of Lawrence. Monmouth jumped on the Vikings early, scoring four runs in
the first inning. Dort picked up her first two RBIS when her base hit
plated Willems and Anna Coutts. Bickett followed Dort's single
with her two run homer to give the Scots a 4-0 lead. Dort and Bickett
were at it again in the sixth as each hit sacrifice flies to pick up
their third RBIs. Willems and Coutts each scored twice for the Scots and
Coutts added a pair of hits.
April 9, 2008 vs. Knox at Galesburg, Ill.
Knox 4, Monmouth 3 (4-12, 0-3)
Monmouth 4 (5-12, 1-3)
Same scores, different outcomes. Two runs in the bottom of the ninth
decided both ends of the double header at Knox. The Prairie Fire took
the opener 4-3 and the Fighting Scots claimed the nightcap 4-3. Anna
Coutt's sac fly drove in Val Stier with the game's first run
in the third and Maggie Dort's second two-run homer in as many games
made it 3-0. Monmouth was clinging to a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the
seventh when Knox plated two runs to take the win. Sarah Christensen
suffered the loss despite fanning 8 batters. Amanda Murdock took
the Game 2 win thanks to some last inning drama. Kembra Bell
drove in Emily Willems with a sac fly in the third to give the
Scots a 1-0 lead and Kristin Bickett's second hit of the game,
her fourth of the night, scored pinch runner Kendra Ricketts to
give the Scots a 2-0 advantage through four innings. Knox tied the game
with three runs on four straight hits in the sixth. Batting in the
bottom of the seventh, two hit batsmen put Natalie Giannini and
Coutts aboard with one out. Bell's second hit of the game scored
Giannini and moved Coutts to third. Coutts then scored on a wild pitch
to give the Scots the win. April 6, 2008 vs. Lake Forest at Monmouth, Ill.
Lake Forest 6, Monmouth 5 (4-10, 0-1)
Lake Forest 13, Monmouth 6 (4-11, 0-2)
Monmouth gave favored Lake Forest a scare in the Scots' Midwest
Conference opener, but fell 6-5, 13-7 to the Foresters. Three unearned
runs by Lake Forest in the seventh inning of the opener wasted a seven
strike out performance by losing pitcher Sarah Christensen.
Emily Willems had given the Scots a 5-3 lead with a two-run single
in the sixth before LFC's Christy Condon blasted a three run homer with
two out in the final frame to give the Foresters the win. The Scots
jumped out to an early lead in the nightcap, scoring three runs in the
first. Kembra Bell's base hit scored Willems and Maggie Dort
fouled off seven straight pitches before finding one she liked for a two
run homer. LFC tied the game with three runs in the second, but Monmouth
answered when Kristin Bickett drove in a pair of runs with a
double in the top of the third. The Foresters plated seven runs in their
half of the inning on five hits and two errors to take a 10-5 lead and
coast to the win. Bell picked up five hits in the twinbill.
April 2, 2008 vs. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
at Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 3 (3-9), Rose-Hulman 1
Monmouth 7 (4-9), Rose-Hulman 6
The Fighting Scots banged out 23 hits in a 3-1, 7-6 double header
sweep of Engineers. Monmouth scored solo runs in the third, fourth and
sixth innings to give Sarah Christensen her second win of the
year. The junior pitcher struck out four and walked no one while
scattering eight hits. Erin Fitzpatrick, Kristin Bickett
and Emily Willems supplied RBIs in the opener. Fitzpatrick
continued to pummel Rose-Hulman pitching in Game 2, driving in two runs
in the opening inning with a double and her two-run homer in the third
made it 5-2. After the Engineers took a 6-5 lead in the sixth, the Scots
tied the game when Anna Coutts scored from second on a throwing
error. Fitzpatrick promptly singled home Maggie Dort to give the
Scots the lead for good 7-6. Christensen pitched the last 1-2/3 innings
for her second win of the night. Dort turned an unassisted double play
in the seventh to preserve the win, spearing a line drive at first base
and doubling off the base runner. Fitzpatrick finished the night with five hits,
two doubles, a home run and six RBIs. Willems picked up four hits, Dort
and Val Stier three each.
March 28, 2008 vs. Illinois Wesleyan at Bloomington, Ill.
Illinois Wesleyan 9, Monmouth 1 (2-8)
Illinois Wesleyan 4, Monmouth 2 (2-9)
Two innings on the night cost the Scots a chance at a pair of upsets
in a 9-1, 4-2 double header loss to the Titans. The Game 1 final score
was no indication of how close the game was. Monmouth fell behind in the
first when Illinois Wesleyan scored a pair of unearned runs. Losing
pitcher Sarah Christensen then went to work and faced just two
batters over the minimum over the next three innings. Trailing 2-0, the
Scots got on the board in the fifth. With two outs, back-to-back hits by
Kristin Bickett and Christensen brought Emily Willems to
the plate. The sweet-swinging shortstop promptly supplied the Scots'
third straight hit, scoring Bickett. The Titans retook the lead with two
runs in the bottom of the inning and generated a two-out rally in the
bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs on five hits to put the game
away. Willems supplied more fireworks in Game 2. With Amanda Murdock
locked in a pitchers dual, Willems gave the Scots a 2-1 lead in the top
of the third, blasting a two-run homer over the centerfield fence. IWU
tied the game in the fourth and then pieced together five hits to score
a pair of runs in the fifth to regain the lead for good. Willems picked
up two hits and three RBIs on the night. Ashley Parer went
3-for-5. March 26, 2008 vs. MacMurray at Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 10, MacMurray 2
Monmouth 3 (2-7), MacMurray 2 (8 innings)
Twelve days off must have helped Monmouth in a 10-2, 3-2 double
header sweep of MacMurray. Sarah Christensen cruised in the
opener, striking out five and walking one while scattering seven hits.
Emily Willems picked up three hits of her five hits on the night
and Kembra Bell and Kristen Bickett drove in a pair of
runs each as the Scots scored in every inning in Game 1. Monmouth ended
the game via the mercy rule with a four-run fifth. It was a bit tighter
in Game 2. Val Stier drove in a pair of runs in the second to
give the Scots a 2-1 lead. The Highlanders scratched out a solo run in
the fifth to tie the score at 2-2. After the Highlanders stranded a pair
of runners in the eighth, the Scots scored when Ashley Parer came
home on a passed ball. Amanda Murdock picked up the complete game
victory, striking out six.
March 14, 2008 at Tucson, Ariz.
North Central 12, Monmouth 2 (0-7)
A slow start doomed the Scots in a 12-2 loss to North Central.
Monmouth surrendered five runs on five hits in the first inning and
never recovered. The Scots pounded out four hits for a pair of runs in
the third. Ashley Parer began the inning with a single and came
home on Emily Willems' double. Willems crossed the plate when
Val Mitchell connected for single. Willems raised her average to
.348 with three hits and Parer picked up a pair of safeties.
March 13, 2008 at Tucson, Ariz.
Judson 14, Monmouth 0 (0-5)
Jamestown 11, Monmouth 3 (0-6)
Jet lag caught up with the Scots in a 14-0 loss to Judson and an
11-3 loss to Jamestown. Monmouth kept Judson in check until a 10-run
outburst in the top of the third. The bottom half of the Scots' order
collected five of their six hits against Judson, but couldn't bunch them
together and stranded 10 runners in the shutout. Monmouth threatened,
but twice failed to get a key hit with the bases loaded. Freshman
Jill Hennenfent led the Scots, going 2-for-2. Ashley Tocha
suffered the loss. The fifth inning proved to be fatal in the nightcap
against Jamestown. The Jimmies put five on the board in the inning and
added another five in the sixth to put the game away. The Scots scored
all of their runs in the sixth as Kristin Bickett came through
with a two RBI single plating Ashley Parer and Emily Willems.
Losing pitcher Sarah Christensen allowed just two hits over the
first four innings before the Jamestown outburst. March 12, 2008 at Tucson, Ariz.
Kenyon 5, Monmouth 0 (0-3)
Calvin 7, Monmouth 6 (0-4)
The Fighting Scots' offense found opposite ends of the spectrum in a
5-0 loss to Kenyon and a 7-6 loss to Calvin. Kenyon scored three runs on
four hits in the first inning and made them stand up. The Scots'
Sarah Christensen settled in and allowed just two runs and three
hits the rest of the way. Monmouth was unable to bunch any of their hits
to avoid the shutout. Erin Fitzpatrick and Anna Coutts had two
hits each in the game. Monmouth found their offense against Calvin,
coming back from a 3-1 deficit after four innings to take a 6-3 lead
with a five-run sixth. Emily Willems doubled to center to lead
off the inning and scored on Kembra Bell's two-bagger. Natalie
Giannini singled home Bell and later scored on an error. Calvin
pushed three runs across in the bottom of the seventh to keep the Scots
looking for their first win. Coutts added two more hits to raise her
average to a team-best .500. Willems and Bell each picked up a pair of
hits vs. Calvin. Amanda Murdock suffered the loss despite
allowing just three earned runs.
March 10, 2008 at Tucson, Ariz.
Patten 7, Monmouth 4 (0-1)
Webster 13, Monmouth 8 (0-2)
Monmouth proved they can score runs, but came up short in the long
run in a 7-4 loss to Patten University and a 13-8 slugfest loss to
Webster University at the Tucson Invitational Games. Trailing 1-0
against Patten in the bottom of the fifth, the Scots stacked their hits
together and took a 4-1 lead after freshman Haley Lyons' double
to start the inning. Kembra Bell supplied the big blow, a two run
double on the heals of Emily Willems' RBI single. The Lions
countered with a pair of runs in the sixth and took the lead for good
with four in the top of the seventh. Webster and Monmouth combined for
25 hits and 13 errors in the nightcap. Monmouth again found themselves
trailing, but Val Mitchell's two run double in the bottom of the
third tied the game at 5-5. The Gorlocks answered with runs in the next
four innings to keep the Scots winless. Mitchell took the Game 1 loss in
relief of starter Sarah Christensen, Amanda Murdock took
the loss in Game 2. Offensively in the two games, Lyons went 2-for-4,
Bell was 4-for-8 with two RBIs and Mitchell was 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
Anna Coutts and Willems picked up three hits each. |
