CLERMONT, Fla. — Kara Vance went the distance to lead the Lawrence University softball team to a 3-1 nonconference victory over Bethel (Minn.) University on Saturday at the National Training Center.
Vance allowed six hits over seven innings, struck out one and walked one, to earn the victory. Karli Persson came on in relief to start the fourth inning and took the loss for Bethel (9-6).
Amanda Jaskolski, Taylor Dodson and Cory Paquette all went 2-for-3 to pace the Vikings (2-2).
Jaskolski helped give Lawrence the lead when she doubled to lead off the bottom of the fourth in a scoreless game. Alex Chiodo followed with a line drive single to score pinch-runner Rheya Upadhyaya and Lawrence led 1-0. Dodson and Paquette followed with back-to-back singles, and Chiodo scored to put the Vikings up 2-0.
Bethel trimmed the lead to 2-1 in the top of the fifth, but the Vikings got that run back in the bottom half of the frame. Alissa Geipel singled and moved to third on Jaskolski’s single. She then scored on Chiodo’s squeeze bunt and Lawrence led 3-1.
Vance then allowed only one baserunner in the final two innings to secure the victory.