A.J. Nathan delivered a run-scoring single in the bottom of the eighth, and the Lawrence University baseball team came up with a big double play in the top of the ninth to beat UW-Stevens Point 10-9 in a nonconference game Wednesday at Don Hawkins Field.
Luke Kostreva pitched the final two innings to pick up the victory and went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and three runs batted in. Robert Rashid and Andy Frelich both went 3-for-5 for the Vikings.
In a wild and windy night, Lawrence (7-25) jumped on the Pointers (24-12) early and built a 4-1 lead after two innings.
UWSP rallied for three runs in the third to tie it and then scored twice in the fourth and two more times in the fifth to take an 8-4 lead.
Lawrence battled back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Rashid started the rally with a double, and Frelich followed with a single to cut score Rashid and cut the lead to 8-5. Kostreva then blasted a two-run homer to right to trim the margin to 8-7.
The Vikings then took the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. Rashid got things started again with a walk and a stolen base. Frelich singled to score Rashid and tie the game at 8-8.
After a walk to Kostreva and a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Tyler Christ reached on an error by the shortstop, and Frelich scored to give Lawrence a 9-8 lead.
The Pointers battled back in the top of the eighth to tie the game on Brad Archambeau’s run-scoring single.
Lawrence grabbed the lead right back in the bottom of the eighth when Phil Wisniewski reached on infield single to start the frame. Wisniewski then scored on Nathan’s two-out single to put Lawrence up 10-9.
The Vikings then sealed the win with a unique double play in the ninth. Sam Spurney was hit by a pitch to start the inning and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a walk put runners at first and second, Kevin Thomas popped up just behind third base.
The infield fly rule was in effect and Thomas was called out. The ball dropped in fair territory, and shortstop Gabe Henriques doubled off pinch-runner Garrett Medenwald at second base to end the game.
Ryan Iverson pitched the eighth and took the loss for the Pointers.