The Lawrence University softball team won a wild second game of a nonconference doubleheader on Saturday to secure a split with Elmhurst College at Whiting Field.
Lawrence won the nightcap 6-5 in nine innings, and Elmhurst took the opener 9-0.
Lawrence (16-16) had built a 4-2 lead with the help of Cathy Kaye’s two-run single in the second inning. Elmhurst got a run in the fifth and then scored twice in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead.
The Vikings tied it at 5-5 with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Britni Totzke was hit by a pitch to start the inning and went to second on a wild pitch. After a bunt moved Totzke to third, Lindsay Nauman misplayed Kaye’s ground ball and Totzke scored.
Elmhurst then stranded a runner at third in the eighth and runners at second and third in the ninth.
The Vikings won with the help of a throwing error in the bottom of the ninth. Elmhurst (22-16) brought star pitcher Stephanie Iori on in relief, but she walked Katie Simonson to start the inning.
After a pair of strikeouts, Shannon Murray hit a line drive back at Iori. Iori knocked it down but threw wildly past first base, and Simonson came all the way around to score.
Lawrence had only three hits in the nightcap, but took advantage of five walks and six Elmhurst errors. Emily Perish pitched the ninth to pick up the win.
In the opener, Elmhurst broke open a scoreless game with six runs in the fifth inning. Iori went the distance and allowed only five hits to pick up the win.
Amanda Bowlin and Maureen Roderick had three hits apiece to pace the Bluejays.