Grinnell edges Vikings with late rally

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The Grinnell College baseball team rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Sunday to post a 5-4 nonconference victory over Lawrence University.

Lawrence had rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth to grab a 4-3 lead before Grinnell countered with a pair in the bottom half of the inning.

Matt Holliday homered and went 2-for-4, and Reno Zemrak and Ethan Jones also went 2-for-4 for the Vikings (0-4). Lawrence’s Brandon Klar homered and drove in a pair of runs.

Brad Weaver’s two-run double gave Grinnell the 5-4 lead in the bottom of the eighth, but Lawrence started the ninth with a triple from Zemrak. Grinnell pitcher Ben Binversie then struck out the next two hitters and a flyout to end the game and pick up the win.

Lawrence started its eighth-inning rally with a Nolan Spencer walk, and Klar followed with a homer to tie the game at 3-3. Holliday then launched a one-out solo homer to give Lawrence a 4-3 edge.

Rookie pitcher Brad Olson allowed only four hits and two earned runs over 7.1 innings to get a no-decision. Rudy Mueller-Schrader took the loss in relief.

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