2002 Softball - Results and Game Summaries

May 4 at Lake Forest, IL
Midwest Conference Championship Tournament
Monmouth 5, St. Norbert 3
Lake Forest 8, Monmouth 0 (19-15)
As was the case in Friday's action at the four-team league playoffs, there were some highs and lows for the Fighting Scots. The high came in the morning game, when Monmouth rallied from a 3-2 deficit to defeat St. Norbert and earn a spot in the championship game. Jody Schaill's two-run triple put the Scots up 4-3 in the fifth, and Vanessa Madison, who also had a solo homer in the game, plated Schaill. Shelly Orwig, who came on in relief in the top half of the fifth, picked up the win, retiring all eight batters she faced. The Scots would have had to beat Lake Forest twice to win the title, and they didn't even come close to doing it once, as the first Forester batter homered and another long ball later in the top half of the first made it 3-0. Monmouth managed just three hits in the game, which was shortened to five innings.

May 3 at Lake Forest, IL
Midwest Conference Championship Tournament
Monmouth 4, Lawrence 3
Lake Forest 4, Monmouth 1 (18-14)
The "Cardiac Kids" were at it again in the first round of the MWC Championships. For the third time in two weeks, the Scots rallied from a seventh-inning deficit to win. The heroine against North Division champion Lawrence was Nicole Auclair, who blasted a two-run walkoff homer to end the game with a bang. The dramatics were made necessary by a late LU rally, as the Vikings scored two unearned runs off MC starter Shelly Orwig in the top of the seventh. The Scots had led throughout thanks to Jen Witmer's homer with Auclair aboard in the first frame. Witmer's blast tied her with Karen Friedrichs for the all-time Monmouth record of 17. Shanda Symonds relieved Orwig in the seventh inning and was credited with the win, her 10th of the season. In the matchup of first-round winners, the Scots took an early lead on a Lake Forest error, but the Foresters turned the tables on Monmouth by belting a pair of long balls of their own, including a two-run shot in the bottom of the first inning off Orwig. Although Monmouth outhit their hosts 6-5, the Scots couldn't muster many threats, and they will now face St. Norbert Saturday at 10 a.m. for the right to take on Lake Forest again in the finals of the double-elimination tournament.

April 28 at Jacksonville, IL
Monmouth 1, Illinois College 0
Monmouth 5, Illinois College 4 (17-13, 9-4)
Nothing like a little drama to get the blood going. The Scots needed a sweep of the Lady Blues to secure a spot in the MWC playoffs and literally waited until the last at-bat to turn the trick. Monmouth took game one behind a three-hit shutout from Shelly Orwig. Jody Schaill scored the only run, coming home on a wild pitch. Orwig came on in relief of Shanda Symonds in the nightcap and picked up her second win of the day when the Scots plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-4 victory. The Scots trailed 4-1 entering their half of the sixth, but RBIs by Olivia Newton and Michelle Courchane cut the deficit to one entering the final frame. With one out, Schaill drove in Nicole Auclair to tie the score at 4-4, then Vanessa Madison collected her second RBI of the game driving in Jen Witmer with the game-winner. Monmouth will open MWC playoff action May 3, either at Lake Forest or at Knox.

April 23 at Galesburg, IL
Monmouth 5, Knox 1
Knox 7, Monmouth 4 (15-13, 7-4)
At least the Scots are winning the first game of the conference doubleheaders. Any ties at the end of the season will be broken by the outcome of the first game of the MWC twinbills, and its looks like the Scots have the advantage over two of their nearest competitors. Saturday Monmouth took the opener over league-leader Lake Forest and continued that trend with a game one win over Knox. Shanda Symonds picked up her ninth win of the season scattering six hits. Jody Schaill, Nicole Auclair and Jen Witmer supplied offensive support, Schaill picked up a pair of hits, Auclair homered and Witmer doubled. Pitcher Shelly Orwig suffered another hard-luck loss in game two. Orwig pitched well enough to win, allowing just one earned run, but five Monmouth errors helped the Prairie Fire earn a split. Schaill continued her attack on the Fire pitchers, collecting two more hits and three RBI, and Elizabeth Sunday matched Schaill's two hits.

April 20 at Monmouth, IL
Monmouth 4, Lake Forest 2
Lake Forest 2, Monmouth 1 (14-12, 6-3)
The Scots and Foresters met in a showdown of favorites in the MWC South and, predictably, the two teams played very competitive softball. Monmouth won the key first game thanks to Carrie Gerardi's two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the fifth. Her two-bagger plated Olivia Newton and Steph Smith, who had each singled. Shelly Orwig made the lead stand up, retiring 13 of the final 14 batters she faced. The Scots had forged a 2-2 tie in the fourth on Jody Schaill's two-run homer. The win was important, because if Monmouth and LFC tie for a playoff spot, the tibreaker is the winner of the first game of their doubleheader. In the nightcap, Nicole Auclair doubled and scored on Jen Witmer's grounder in the top of the fourth to make it 1-1, and the score remained that way until the bottom of the seventh. Orwig, who relieved starter Shanda Symonds in the bottom of the sixth, surrendered a one-out single with a runner on second, and when Witmer failed to field the ball cleanly in center, the LFC runner scored to end the game.

April 19 at Monmouth, IL
Grinnell 4, Monmouth 2
Monmouth 6, Grinnell 5 (13-11, 5-2)
The Fighting Scots snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the nightcap, and what an important victory it was. Facing a Grinnell team that had gone 0-5 at last weekend's MWC Classic, the Scots figured to be the heavy favorite, but they were very nearly swept at home. The Pioneers scored four unearned runs in the sixth inning of the opener as the wheels came off for Monmouth. Three errors and a passed ball caused MC's 2-0 lead to evaporate. The wheels didn't return until MC faced a 5-1 deficit in the top of the seventh of the nightcap (MC played as the visiting team in the second game). Monmouth strung together some key hits, and then Jen Witmer provided perhaps the biggest blow of the Scots' season, roping a two-run double to right center to put Monmouth up 6-5. Shanda Symonds got the last three outs to record her eighth victory of the year. None of the nine runs Symonds and first-game starter Shelly Orwig allowed were earned.  

April 13 at MWC Classic, Rockford, IL
Monmouth 7, Beloit 4
St. Norbert 6, Monmouth 0
Monmouth 5, Lawrence 2 (12-10, 4-1)
A year ago, the Scots limped home from the inaugural MWC Classic with a 1-4 record, but they were able to pull a reversal the second time around, thanks in part to a clutch victory over Lawrence in the tourney finale. With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Jen Witmer capped off her great showing in the five-game event by gunning down a Viking runner at the plate. Monmouth then slapped four straight singles in the top of the seventh, with Liz Sunday's base knock driving in two. Nicole Auclair's RBI groundout provided an insurance run, and pitcher Shanda Symonds then slammed the door on Lawrence in the bottom of the inning, picking up her third win of the Classic. She started the day with the win over Beloit and was helped out immediately by Witmer's two-run homer in the top of the first, the slugger's third long ball of the tourney. Monmouth managed two just hits in its loss to SNC, and Shelly Orwig was saddled with the loss.  

April 12 at MWC Classic, Rockford, IL
Monmouth 6, Carroll 3
Monmouth 6, Ripon 3 (10-9, 2-0)
It was a very good day for the Fight Scots at the opening of the MWC Classic. Monmouth began the series by avenging last year's loss to Carroll behind the pitching of Shelly Orwig, who scattered eight hits. She got offensive support from Jen Witmer, who homered and picked up a pair of hits and Carrie Gerardi, who had two RBI. Monmouth nailed down their second victory of the day in the nightcap thanks to long balls by Jody Schaill, Witmer and Nicole Auclair. Shanda Symonds went the distance, allowing just one earned run while striking out six Red Hawks. Witmer had three RBI.

April 10 at Monmouth, IL
Monmouth 3, Augustana 2
Augustana 8, Monmouth 0 (8-9)
The Fighting Scots, finally able to play a home date after two prior ones were rained out, extended their regular season home winning streak to 18 games with a thrilling 3-2 victory over an Augustana team that entered the week ranked 11th in the nation. Nicole Auclair followed Michelle Courchane's leadoff triple in the first inning with a two-run homer, and pitcher Shelly Orwig, though not overpowering, managed to hold Augie to two runs despite allowing nine hits. She struck out five and did not walk a batter. Orwig notched her fourth win of the year when Olivia Newton lined a game-winning single to center in the bottom of the seventh. Excluding the 2000 MWC postseason tourney, the Scots had not last at home since Augustana won the first game of a doubleheader back in 2000. The Vikings rained on the Scots in the nightcap, ending the Monmouth home win streak at 18. Jody Schaill did her best to keep the Scots hope alive going 2-for-2 at the plate, but the rest of the Scots managed just three hits while striking out eight times in five innings. Schaill finished 3-for-5 on the day.

April 4 at Bloomington, IL
Illinois Wesleyan 4, Monmouth 2
Illinois Wesleyan 6, Monmouth 2 (7-8)
The Scots bats were quiet against the Titans, dropping the twinbill 4-2 and 6-2. Monmouth managed just two hits in the opener as Shelly Orwig suffered the loss. Shanda Symonds was cruising in game two leading 2-0 until the sixth when the Titans rallied for six runs to complete the sweep. Symonds struck out seven in 5-2/3 innings of work.

March  26 at Davenport, IA
Monmouth 3, Marycrest 0
Monmouth 8, Marycrest 3 (7-6)
It took a game time temperature of around 40 degrees to wake up the Monmouth bats as the Scots swept the Eagles. Shelly Orwig finally got some run support to notch her third win of the season in the opener, her second by shutout. Nicole Auclair drove in the first run of the game in the top of the first, then Carrie Gerardi and Olivia Newton drove in two insurance runs in the fourth as Orwig faced just three batters over the minimum in tossing a one-hitter. In the nightcap, Shanda Symonds benefited from the Scots' onslaught to record her fourth win of the year. Last season's home run leader, Jen Witmer, was kept in the park but still did some damage driving in two runs with a pair of hits. Auclair and Liz Sunday also added two RBI each while Michelle Meyer and Stephanie Smith each matched Witmer's 2-for-4 night.

March  23 at Indianola, IA
Simpson 3, Monmouth 1
Wartburg 1, Monmouth 0 (5-6)
The Fighting Scots came up short in a pair of pitchers' duels at the Simpson Classic. Shelly Orwig allowed three runs in the second inning to the hosts, and that was enough to send Monmouth to defeat in its first game. Steph Smith had a two-bagger for MC and Nicole Auclair doubled her home, but that was the only run the Scots would score all day. That lack of offense made Wartburg's solo homer off Shanda Symonds in the fifth inning of the nightcap the game-winning blow. Symonds allowed just six hits and a walk while suffering her first loss of the year.

March  20 at Eureka, IL
Eureka 1, Monmouth 0
Monmouth 8, Eureka 0 (5-4)
Only a twist of fate kept the Scots' Shelly Orwig from being able to fully celebrate a new single-game strikeout record.  Eureka pushed across the only run of the first game of the doubleheader when Mollie Springer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the third inning. Orwig pitched well, fanning 13 Red Devil batters while suffering another hard-luck loss. She bested Mary Day's previous record of 12 strikeouts set in 1985. En route to pitching a one-hitter, she allowed just five baserunners, but four came in that inning. Unbeaten Shanda Symonds (3-0) got plenty of support in the nightcap as Monmouth banged out 13 hits. A pair of Scots who hit over .400 last year had the hot bats as Nicole Auclair and Vanessa Madison each had three safeties. Madison also drove in three runs and Auclair stole two bases.

March  6 at Fort Myers, FL (Spring Trip)
St. Mary of the Woods 4, Monmouth 3
Wartburg 6, Monmouth 2 (4-3)
Someone forgot to wake up the bats on the final day of the Scots' spring trip to Florida. Shelly Orwig pitched well, but was the hard-luck loser as the Scots fell to St. Mary's 4-3 and dropped a 6-2 decision to 12th-ranked Wartburg. Monmouth staged a sixth-inning rally against St. Mary's, plating two runs to cut the score to  4-3, but fell just short. In the second game of the day the Scots played even until the final two innings when Wartburg pushed four runs across in the top of the seventh for a 6-2 win. Orwig pitched no-hit ball through 5.2 innings.

March  4 at Fort Myers, FL (Spring Trip)
Monmouth 9, York 1
Monmouth 12, Ursinus 0
Clark 7, Monmouth 2 (4-1)
Shanda Symonds earned the win against York, pitching five innings and striking out four. Nicole Auclair, Jody Schaill and Jen Witmer all had two hits for the Scots and Schaill and Witmer each homered and collected three RBIs apiece. Shelly Orwig blanked Ursinus, fanning nine in just five innings en route to the eighth shutout of her career. Orwig got plenty of support as the Scots banged out 13 hits, led by Michelle Courchane and Stephanie Smith's 3-for-3 afternoons. Newcomer Elizabeth Sunday drove in three runs and connected on her first career home run. The Scots suffered their first loss of the season against Clark in the last game of the day. Orwig was saddled with the loss as nine Clark hits coupled with three Monmouth errors dropped her to 2-1 on the season. Auclair continued her assault on opposing pitchers, collecting a pair of hits, including a homer to lead off the Scots' first inning.

March  3 at Fort Myers, FL (Spring Trip)
Monmouth 17, Dominican University 3
Monmouth 6, St. John Fisher College 3 (2-0)
The Scots began 2002 where they left off in 2001 with two impressive wins in Florida. In the season opener against Dominican, Monmouth showed their record-setting offense from one year ago was no fluke with a 17-3 victory in a five-inning game. Michelle Meyer went 3-for-4 and Jody Schaill and Michelle Courchane collected four RBIs each. Shelly Orwig pitched the first 2-2/3 innings before being relieved by winning pitcher Shanda Symonds.
Monmouth went the full seven innings in the second game of the day, defeating St. John Fisher, the 33rd -ranked team in the nation, 6-3. Shelly Orwig went the distance to pick up the win with support from Nicole Auclair, who went 3-for-4, and Olivia Newton and Jen Witmer, who each had two RBIs.  

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