IC Sweeps Ripon, Moves to 4-0 in Conference Play

RIPON, Wis. – The Illinois College softball team is off to a 4-0 start in Midwest Conference play after sweeping a doubleheader from Ripon, 9-0 and 6-0 on Wednesday at Tracy Field.

With the victories, IC improved to 9-16 overall and 4-0 in the league while Ripon dropped to 2-14 and 0-2.

Game 1 (IC 9 Ripon 0, 5 innings)
Julia Drake got all the support she needed in the first inning and then did the rest. She tossed a one-hitter with nine strikeouts in her five innings in the circle and earned her fifth victory of the season. In two games on this road trip, Drake has thrown 11 innings, allowing no runs and one hit with 18 strikeouts while earning two wins and a save.

The IC offense opened the game with a solo run in the first when Allison Mortland scored on a Ripon error. The Lady Blues added three in the second, the big blow being a two-run triple by Mortland that scored Claudia Adam and Brooke Loveall. Mortland then came home on a Kayla Serpa single.

Loveall drove in Elysia Hand with a single in the third before IC added three more in the fourth. Mortland again scored on an error by Ripon before Cheyenne Anderson doubled in Calynn Gicante. Jaycie Edwards later singled home Anderson. IC closed out the scoring with a run in the fifth as Morland singled home Hand.

The Lady Blues' offense was led by Mortland's three hits, three runs and three RBI. Serpa and Hand each had a pair of hits as well.

Game 2 (IC 6 Ripon 0)
This was a scoreless pitcher's duel through the first five innings before the Lady Blues got untracked in the top of the sixth. IC broke the ice with two runs on a Gicante double that scored Mortland before Anderson lifted a sacrifice fly to score Gicante. 

IC got some breathing room in the seventh when it put up a four spot. A Mortland double plated Claudia Adam then Serpa drove home Adam with a single. A Gicante single to score Serpa and Taylor Henry's single to score Gicante closed out the scoring for the day.

Henry went the distance in the circle for IC, allowing only one hit while striking out four and earning her first victory of the season.

Morland and Gicante each collected three hits to lead the offense.

Up Next
IC returns home for the weekend, hosting Beloit in a Midwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday and Lake Forest for a conference twin bill on Sunday. Action begins at 1:00 p.m. on both days.