Heading into their most important weekend of the season, the Monmouth College softball team earned a split in a doubleheader against rival Knox College on Wednesday, April 9.

The Scots will travel to Janesville, Wis., this weekend to participate in the Midwest Conference Classic, playing against five different MWC teams on April 12-13.

Monmouth’s 4-3 victory over Knox in the second game of the doubleheader was their first conference win of the season; their MWC record is 1-3, while they sit at 5-12 overall.

The games against Knox were played in Galesburg, and the Prairie Fire defeated Monmouth 4-3 in the first game. The Scots got two hits apiece from senior Kristen Bickett and junior Sarah Christensen, while freshman Haley Lyons, sophomore Maggie Dort and junior Ashley Parer all recorded one base hit in the losing effort.

The Scots put up three runs in the third inning, and they led by a score of 3-2 going into the final frame (the seventh inning). However, the Prairie Fire mounted a comeback, scoring two runs in the seventh to win the game.

Monmouth did not take long to get redemption against Knox College, as they won the second game in similar fashion as how Knox won the first.

The Scots were trailing 3-2 going into the seventh inning, but they were able to rally and score two runs in their final opportunity. Sophomore Kembra Bell got two hits in the game, and she drove in the game’s tying run in the seventh inning. Bell finished 2-3 with two RBIs in the game. Senior leadoff hitter Emily Willems turned in a strong game, going 2-4 and scoring one run. Bickett also finished with two hits for the Scots, who were actually out-hit by the Prairie Fire 13-7.

Junior Amanda Murdock pitched a complete game and earned her second win of the season.

The Scots currently sit in third place in the MWC South Division, but they hope to pick up ground when they play five conference foes in the Midwest Conference Classic this weekend.

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