An RBI single by Liz Waymire in the 10th inning was all the Scots needed to earn the sweep over the visiting Grinnell Pioneers Saturday afternoon. The Scots took game one, 8-0 in five innings, and the second 4-3 in extra frames. With these results, Monmouth improves to 14-21 overall and 7-6 in conference play.
In the opener, it was Monmouth’s time to shine. Third baseman Mackenzie Gerard got the party started in the opening frame when she smacked an RBI single to left field, scoring lead-off hitter Karleigh Ashby. The Scots followed up in the second innings with RBI hits by Alexis Hardy, Ashby, and Savannah Powers, which grew the hosts’ advantage to 5-0 after two innings.
The Scots topped off the third inning when Ashby launched an RBI double to right-center field and scored on a throwing error. The Scots then held the Pioneers scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings and claimed an 8-0 victory in five innings.
Game two saw a more even start when both sides put up a run in the first inning. Monmouth added three runs in the third when Powers smacked an RBI single to the outfield, Gerard was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and shortstop Ella Cunningham scored on an RBI fielder’s choice by Maddie Hepner. However, a defensive error by the Scots and a base hit to right field by the Pioneers paved the way for Grinnell to tie the game at four runs apiece in the seventh.
After three full extra innings, Liz Waymire emerged as the hero in the 10th inning when she launched an RBI single to left center field, scoring catcher Graci Guenther and winning the game for the Scots.
The Fighting Scots softball team will end the regular season on May 1 when the Lady Blues of Illinois College visit town for a doubleheader. First pitches for those games are scheduled for 3 and 5 p.m.