The Grinnell College softball team played Illinois College on even terms in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday, but the visiting Lady Blues still emerged with a 3-2 victory at the Softball Complex.
That completed a sweep for the visitors, as they also won the opener 10-1.
Grinnell and Illinois College both had seven hits in the second game, with Aiyana Turpen-Scott ’14 and Amanda Stromquist ’12 having two apiece for Grinnell.
Jennifer Fulton ’15 had a strong pitching effort, giving up just three earned runs and striking out four while suffering the loss.
Grinnell grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Jayme Wiebold ’12 began things when she singled to right and moved to second on Christina Colver’s ’13 sacrifice.
After Stromquist was hit by a pitch, Turpen-Scott singled to right to load the bases. Wiebold then scored on Fulton’s RBI groundout.
Illinois College went up 2-1 in the top of the fifth, but the Pioneers tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Jessica Menary ’13 singled through the right side, moved to second on a walk by Aniela Wendt ’14, took third on a passed ball and scored when Summer Wilke ’15 grounded out.
However, Illinois College scored once in the sixth for the eventual game-winner.
In the first game, Grinnell could manage only three hits off Erin Rutledge while the visitors pounded out 16 hits.
Illinois College scored one run in the second inning, two more in the third and another in the fourth for a 4-0 lead.
Grinnell’s run came in the bottom of the fourth when Stromquist walked and crossed the plate on Colver’s triple to right.
Illinois College then erupted for six runs in the sixth to win the game via the eight-run rule.
The visitors are now 2-0 in the Midwest Conference and 5-10 overall, while Grinnell fell to 0-2 in the league and 1-11 in all games.
Grinnell plays at Simpson College on Tuesday. Game time is 4 p.m.
