Lewis scrapes wall in memorable last game
Ryan Phillips - Sports Editor and Seamus O'Sullivan - Staff Writer
The Monmouth College softball team concluded its 2025 season last Sunday with a pair of home losses to Lake Forest College, who secured the Midwest Conference (MWC) regular-season championship with sweep.
In the opener, Monmouth fell 2–0, despite a strong pitching performance from Elizabeth Durfee, who allowed only one run over seven innings. The Scots managed three hits, from Brooklyn Manners, Mackenzie Gerard, and Kendall Lewis. Lake Forest’s Riley Stiles earned the win, striking out five and walking one in a complete-game shutout.
During the second game, Monmouth dropped a 6–1 ballgame. Kendall Lewis provided the lone highlight for the Scots, hitting a solo home run that hit the top of the wall and bounced over in the fourth inning, her first of the season in her final game with the Scots. The home run had thrown the weight off her shoulders as it was a play that meant so much to her.
“Last year was the first year in my high school through college career that I did not hit a home run,” Lewis said. A shoulder injury is to blame for the loss of power. “Before surgery, I struggled to find the fence, I led the team in doubles, finding gaps instead of trotting around the bases,” Lewis said.
“Hitting the home run against conference champions Lake Forest in the doubleheader meant so much, their pitching staff pitched real well all season,” Lewis said.
Grace Wyman added two hits, but Monmouth was unable to overcome Lake Forest’s offense, which tallied nine hits. Hannah Smith pitched a complete game for the Foresters, striking out eight without issuing a walk.
With the sweep, Lake Forest improved to 25–14–1 overall and 14–2 in the MWC, clinching the conference’s regular-season title. Monmouth concluded its season with a 6–32 overall record and a 2–14 mark in conference play.
The Foresters will now prepare for the upcoming MWC Tournament, while the Scots look ahead to building on their experiences for the next season.