GALESBURG, Ill. — The Knox College baseball team got a walk-off homer in the nightcap Saturday to complete a nonconference doubleheader sweep of Lawrence University at Blodgett Field.
Knox won the opener 11-1 in seven innings and took the nightcap 4-2.
In the second game, the score was tied 2-2 heading to the bottom of the ninth when Dan Rothbauer came on in relief for the Vikings (6-8). Rothbauer retired the first two hitters when Tristyn Ruiz drew a walk. Drake Sykes followed with a two-run homer to win it for Knox (4-10).
Chris Shaw was stellar as the Vikings starter, allowing just one earned run over eight innings. He gave up six hits, struck out eight and walked five.
Lawrence grabbed the lead in the top of the fourth when Brandon Klar, just back from injury, blasted a lead-off homer for a 1-0 edge. Rothbauer followed with a double, and Matt Holliday singled to put runners at the corners. Rothbauer then scored on Travis Weber’s double-play ball to put the Vikings up 2-0.
Knox picked up single runs in the fourth and seventh to tie it at 2-2.
Kam Wells went 3-for-4 in the opener for Knox. Jack Barreca worked the final 1.1 innings to get the win in relief.
In the first game, Alec Jordan went the distance for Knox and limited the Vikings to just five hits. He struck out seven and walked one.
Matt McCaffrey went 4-for-4 and drove in three runs, and Matt Mueller was 3-for-4 with two RBIs for the Prairie Fire.
Zach Rabideau allowed five runs in 2.1 innings and took the loss.