FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Lawrence University baseball team opened its season on Friday with a nonconference doubleheader split with Lakeland College at the Gene Cusic Classic.
Lakeland (4-4) won the opener 17-6, but the Vikings (1-1) took the nightcap 15-11.
In the nightcap, Lawrence rallied from a pair of deficits to take control. The Vikings trailed 2-1 after the second but scored four times in the top of third.
The Muskies grabbed the lead back with five runs in the bottom of the third to go up 7-5. Lawrence came right back to score six times in the fourth, and the Vikings added three more runs in the sixth to seal the victory.
Lawrence had three players with three hits apiece to pace a 17-hit attack. Jake Gordon went 3-for-4 and finished a homer short of the cycle. Gabe Henriques and Aaron Benz both went 3-for-4 as well.
Davide Harris, Sam Kossow, Phil Wisniewski and Richie Foreman all had two hits for the Vikings.
Senior Alex Brewer pitched three-plus innings to get the win in relief. Dan Taylor pitched the final 1.2 innings to close out the victory. Andy Chitwood made the start and took the loss for Lakeland.
Lakeland got off to a fast start and took advantage of walks to win the opener. The Muskies led 4-0 after the top of the first, and Lawrence pitchers walked 12 in the opener.
John Doran made the start for the Vikings and took the loss. Derek Loomans picked up the win for Lakeland.
Henriques went 3-for-4 with a double to pace the Lawrence offense, and Davis Ogilvie went 2-for-4 for the Vikings.
Lawrence returns to action on Saturday with a doubleheader against Gettysburg College.