FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Western Connecticut State University baseball team pulled away in the final two innings to post a 12-4 nonconference win over Lawrence University on Wednesday.
Western Connecticut led 5-4 going into the top of the eighth, and the Colonials scored five times in the eighth and added two more runs in the ninth.
Lawrence (2-5) outhit the Colonials 14-11, but the Vikings couldn’t cash in on multiple scoring chances. Lawrence could have pulled away early, but the Vikings left seven runners on in the first three innings.
Davide Harris and Gabe Henriques both went 4-for-5 to pace the Lawrence attack. Harris picked up a triple and Henriques drove in a run. Phil Wisniewski went 2-for-3, drove in a run and stole two bases for the Vikings.
Western Connecticut led 2-0 after the top of the first, but the Vikings tied it in the bottom half of the inning. Harris and Henriques got the rally started with back-to-back singles, and the Vikings later loaded the bases when Tim Kinsella walked. Wisniewski and Joel Birch then drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks to tie the game.
The Colonials scored twice in the fifth and added another run in the sixth to take a 5-2 lead. Lawrence scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to cut the margin to 5-4. Harris started that rally with a triple, and Henriques followed with a single to drive him in. Henriques later scored when one of the Colonials misplayed a fly ball.
Western Connecticut then sealed the win with seven runs in the final two innings.
Freshman Dan Taylor made the start and pitched into the fourth inning. Eric Bohling took the loss in relief for Lawrence.