Softball

Category: Softball

Lawrence rallies to top Fredonia 8-7

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Lawrence University softball team rallied from a five-run deficit to post an 8-7 nonconference victory over the State University of New-York Fredonia on Friday at the National Training Center.

The Vikings (1-1) trailed 7-2 before striking for five runs in the fifth to tie it and then adding the winning run in the sixth.

Anna Wawiorka, Alex Chiodo and Alissa Geipel had two hits apiece to pace Lawrence’s 11-hit attack, Amanda Jaskolski drove in a pair of runs for the Vikings.

Kara Vance picked up the win in relief for Lawrence. She didn’t allow a hit over the final two innings, struck out two and didn’t walk a batter.

Lawrence trailed 7-2 heading to the bottom of the fifth and there were two outs in the frame before the Vikings did all their damage. Tierney Duffy reached on an error, and Wawiorka followed with a single. Jaskolski smacked a two-run single to cut the margin to 7-4. Chiodo followed with a double to score pinch-runner Rheya Upadhyaya. Samantha Belletini then singled to score Chiodo to cut the lead to 7-6. Taylor Dodson followed with a double to score Belletini and tie it at 7-7.

The Vikings started the winning rally off reliever Kelsey Gannett in the sixth when Geipel walked and Savanna Marsicek reached on an error. After a sacrifice bunt, Wawiorka singled to score Geipel and the Vikings led 8-7.

Vance worked a perfect seventh to secure the win.

Maddy Stavish, Kim Lotocki, Alyssa Morgan and Kate Nicholson all had two hits for Fredonia (2-5), and Erin Mushtare drove in three runs.

Vikings edged by Geneseo in opener

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Lawrence University softball team dropped a 2-1 nonconference decision to the State University of New York-Geneseo in the season opener on Friday at the National Training Center.

Corrin Spallone limited Lawrence (0-1) to only two hits to get the win, but Kara Vance was almost as good for the Vikings. Vance went the distance and gave up just five hits, struck out one and walked one.

Cory Paquette doubled for Lawrence, and Tierney Duffy had a single for the two Lawrence hits. Elise Porreca went 2-for-3 to pace the Knights.

Geneseo scored twice in the bottom of the second on a pair of hits. Lawrence cut the lead to 2-1 with a run in the top of the third when Paquette led off with a double and later scored on Tierney’s single.

The Vikings had runners on base in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings but couldn’t get the tying run across the plate.

Inside LU Athletics: Lawrence softball rolls with the changes

The more things change, the more they stay the same for the Lawrence University softball team.

As the Vikings prepare for the upcoming season, they do it without Shannon Murray, the 2013 Midwest Conference North Division Pitcher of the Year, who was lost to graduation. While that is a big change for Lawrence, the Vikings do return nearly every position player and some experienced pitching.

That combination should give Lawrence a chance to return to the Midwest Conference Tournament again this season after finishing second in the league in 2013.

“In some ways, we are as strong or stronger (than last season),” said Lawrence coach Kim Tatro, who earned her seventh league Coach of the Year honor last season. “The loss of Shannon is a significant one, and our pitchers are well aware of that. Someone has to step up and lead us. What may be most effective for us is to pitch by committee. We’ll see, it may be a work in progress.”

The Vikings return a trio of pitchers, led by junior Kara Vance, who saw action last season. She went 6-3 last season with a 3.16 earned run average in 64.1 innings. Pitchers Jessica Demski and Liz Barthels also return after seeing more limited action a season ago.

“Kara looks good. She’s doing some really nice things,” Tatro said.

“Until you’re on the field and playing in game situations, you don’t know how people are going to respond, but I feel pretty good about where we’re at right now.”

The wild card on the pitching staff is second baseman Cory Paquette, who pitched extensively as a prep standout. Tatro joked that she pulled Paquette out of retirement, but that she has the best velocity among the staff.

Lawrence has some outstanding returning players in the field, including all-conference third baseman Anna Wawiorka. She hit .319 as a freshman in 2013 and anchors an infield that returns all but one of its starters.

“Anna was just so solid there last year, and she makes things go for us in the short game, especially defensively,” Tatro said.

Senior Alex Chiodo hit .333 last season and will likely spend more time behind the plate after playing extensively at first base. Sophomore Katie Schumacher also is back at first after starting 12 games last season. Paquette returns at second, and senior Alissa Geipel is back after starting at shortstop last season.

The Vikings also have newcomers that are trying to nudge their way into the starting lineup. Junior transfer Amanda Jaskolski could be the starter at shortstop, and freshman catcher Samantha Belletini and freshman second baseman Marisa Thackston are pushing hard.

“(Amanda is) very gifted and Alissa Geipel did a fantastic job at shortstop last year,” Tatro said.

“We have solid newcomers who are going to contribute immediately or compete to contribute immediately.”

Across the outfield, the Vikings have returning starters in Savanna Marsicek and Tierney Duffy and experienced players in Mary Diduch, Brielle Bartes, Taylor Dodson and Geipel, who played left field as a sophomore. Freshman Rheya Upadhyaya also is in the mix for playing time in the outfield.

“We have 17 players and legitimately all 17 could compete for spots,” Tatro said. “This year’s group, top to bottom, is probably the most complete we’ve had in a while.”

The Vikings open their season March 21 in Clermont, Fla., and the ultimate goal will be to return to the four-team MWC Tournament in May.

“It’s nice that we got a taste of it last year and had some success in it,” Tatro said. “It was great to get back, and nice for our players to see that if you get there, anything can happen.”

Three for Siebert

Men’s basketball star Chris Siebert has been named to the All-Midwest Conference team for the third consecutive year.

A senior guard from Baraboo, Wis., Siebert was a first-team selection this season after earning second-team honors for both the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. Siebert averaged 17.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game for the Vikings.

Siebert ranked seventh in the league in points per game and was among the leaders in a number of other categories. He ranked fourth with 3.1 3-pointers made per game and was fifth in 3-point shooting at 46.2 percent. Siebert finished 12th in field goal percentage at 46.8, 12th in free throw percentage at 81.7 and 13th at 2.9 assists per game. Siebert made 72 3-pointers on the season, which ranks second in school history to the 75 John Dekker made in 2009-10.

Siebert finished a stellar career fourth in scoring at Lawrence with 1,360 points.

Lawrence student-athletes named to Academic All-Midwest Conference team

APPLETON, Wis. — More than 100 Lawrence University student-athletes have been chosen for the Academic All-Midwest Conference team.

Lawrence had 133 student-athletes earn the academic all-conference honor, which is given after having a grade point average of 3.33 during that academic year.

The Lawrence women’s swimming and diving team had the largest numbers of honorees with 12. Women’s tennis and women’s indoor track both had 11 and volleyball and women’s outdoor track both had 10.

Complete list

Lawrence student-athletes receive awards at Honors Celebration

APPLETON, Wis. — Nine Lawrence University student-athletes were recently honored at the 2013 Honors Celebration.

The awards and winners are as follows.

The Ruth Bateman Award is given for excellence in scholarship, athletic ability and leadership by a female athlete. Senior Rose Tepper (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon) was honored after an outstanding career in track and field. A five-time all-conference honoree in the high jump, Tepper was 2010 Midwest Conference outdoor champion. Tepper, who holds the Lawrence record indoors in the high jump, was a qualifier for the 2011 NCAA Division III Championships.

The Iden Charles Champion Cup is given for excellence in scholarship, athletic ability, college spirit and loyalty. Senior Tyler Mazur (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg) completed an outstanding football career at Lawrence and remains a key contributor to the men’s basketball squad. Mazur finished his football career ranked fourth in receiving yards (2,253), fifth in catches (130), fifth in touchdown catches (25), fourth in total touchdowns (37) and fifth in points (224). Mazur also was a key member of the men’s basketball team and broke the school record by making nine 3-pointers in a game this past season.

The Outstanding Freshman Athletic Award for Men is given the freshman man who has made the most outstanding contribution to Lawrence athletics. Brandon Boelter (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage) earned the award after an outstanding rookie season with the Lawrence hockey team. Boelter was a first-team All-Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association selection and was named to the All-MCHA Freshmen Team. Boelter led all defensemen in the conference in scoring with six goals and 15 assists for 21 points.

The Outstanding Freshman Athletic Award for Women is given to the freshman woman who has made the most outstanding contribution to Lawrence athletics. Hayley Cardinal (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) won the award after a big impact on the swimming and track and field teams. Cardinal broke the Lawrence records in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200 breaststroke and placed second and third, respectively, in those events at the Midwest Conference Championships. Cardinal also was part of two record-setting relay teams. Cardinal also won a letter in track and field.

The Ralph V. Landis Award was established by the Lettermen of Lawrence in honor of Dr. Landis, physician to Lawrence students from 1926-78, and is awarded for outstanding contributions to Lawrence athletics by a senior male athlete. Senior hockey player Brad Scurfield (Midland, Mich./Midland) was an All-Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association selection and was the team’s Most Valuable Player each of the past two seasons. Scurfield finished his career ranked in the top eight in school history in points, goals, assists and power-play goals.

The Charles E. Pond Award for Men is given for all-around athletic ability by a senior man in two or more sports and for sportsmanship, school spirit and scholarship. Sam Stevens (Suamico, Wis./Bay Port) was a four-time Midwest Conference champion in track and field was a 15-time All-Midwest Conference performer. The 2011 Midwest Conference cross country champion, Stevens led the Vikings to the team title. Stevens, who holds Lawrence track records in the mile, 3,000 meters and distance medley relay, was a four-time all-conference honoree in cross country.

The Charles E. Pond Award for Women is given for all-around athletic ability by a senior woman in two or more sports and for sportsmanship, school spirit, and scholarship. Cathy Kaye (Sturgeon Bay, Wis./Sevastopol) was a four-year starter in both softball and basketball and also earned a letter in cross country. Kaye was a three-time All-Midwest Conference softball selection and also earned All-Great Lakes Region honors. The team’s center fielder, Kaye also served as team captain.

The Marion Read Award is given for outstanding contributions to Lawrence athletics. Shannon Murray (Lawrenceville, Ga./Dacula) earned the award for the second consecutive year. A four-year starter in softball, Murray was named to the All-Midwest Conference honors for the last two seasons and was the 2013 North Division Pitcher of the Year. A team captain, Murray also was a two-time All-Great Lakes Region softball selection. Murray also served as a student athletic trainer for both women’s tennis and basketball.

The Letterwinner Award is presented by the L Club to those outstanding seniors who have earned eight or more letters. The winners are:

Amanda Dwyer (Ralston, Neb./Ralston), cross country and track and field;

Cathy Kaye (Sturgeon Bay, Wis./Sevastopol), basketball, cross country, softball;

Sam Stevens (Suamico, Wis./Bay Port), cross country and track and field;

Rose Tepper (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon), indoor and outdoor track and field.

Murray earns all-region softball honors for third time

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University softball standout Shannon Murray has been to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Great Lakes Region Team.

Murray (Lawrenceville, Ga./Dacula) was a second-team selection in the utility category, and this marks the third time she has earned all-region honors in her career. Murray was a third-team selection in 2010 and 2012.

Murray was Lawrence’s top pitcher and top hitter this season.

In the circle, Murray posted a 13-11 record with a 2.32 earned run average in 148 innings. She struck out 93 and walked 22 while tossing a pair of shutouts and pitching a combined no-hitter, the third of her career.

Murray, who played first base and served as the team’s designated player, hit a team-high .379 with nine doubles, one triple, one homer and a team-high 22 runs batted in.

Murray was named the Midwest Conference North Division Pitcher of the Year and earned all-league honors for the second consecutive season. Murray led Lawrence to a second-place finish in the Midwest Conference.

This marks the 17th consecutive season that Lawrence has had at least one all-region selection.

Murray, Tatro takes top honors on All-MWC softball team

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University softball star Shannon Murray and head coach Kim Tatro took home top individual honors on the All-Midwest Conference North Division team.

Murray (Lawrenceville, Ga./Dacula) was named North Division Pitcher of the Year, and Tatro earned Coach of the Year honors. Both Cathy Kaye (Sturgeon Bay, Wis./Sevastopol) and Anna Wawiorka (Oconto Falls, Wis./Oconto Falls) also were named to the all-conference team.

Murray won Pitcher of the Year honors for the first time and was named to the all-conference team for the second consecutive season.

Murray went 5-6 in conference play but posted an outstanding 2.17 earned run average. She struck out 39 and walked 12 in 67.2 innings. Murray also hit .513 in league play with four doubles and 11 runs batted in in 14 games.

On the season, Murray posted a 13-11 record with a 2.32 ERA in 148 innings. She struck out 93 and walked 22 while tossing a pair of shutouts and pitching a combined no-hitter, the third of her career. Murray also hit a team-high .379 with nine doubles, one triple, one homer and a team-high 22 RBIs.

Tatro was honored as Coach of the Year for the seventh time in 20 seasons at Lawrence. Tatro, who has more wins (321 in softball, 412 overall) than any coach in Lawrence history, led the team to 21 victories this season. Lawrence’s second-place finish in the conference was its best since winning the title in 1999. Tatro also was named Coach of the Year in 2011, 2006, 2002, 1999, 1998 and 1997.

Kaye, who also was named to the all-conference team in 2010 and 2011, hit .283 in league play and scored a team-high 10 runs. She also had two doubles, two homers and five RBIs. On the season, Kaye started every game in center field and hit .307 with 21 RBIs. She led the team with 11 doubles and three home runs, including a dramatic three-run, walk-off homer against St. Norbert College in the MWC Tournament.

Wawiorka is the first Lawrence freshman to be on the all-conference team since Kaye was selected in 2010. The rookie third baseman was second on the team with a .341 batting average in conference play with four doubles and five RBIs. On the season, she was third on the squad with a .319 batting average with 10 doubles, one triple and 14 RBIs. She also led the team with 10 stolen bases.

Lawrence finished the season with a 21-15 record and took second in the MWC Tournament.

Cornell tops Vikings to win MWC title

APPLETON, Wis. — Jackie Sernek tossed a two-hit shutout to lead Cornell College to a 9-0 victory over Lawrence University on Sunday in the Midwest Conference Tournament championship game at Whiting Field.

It was the first league title for the Rams (23-14), who rejoined the conference for the 2012-13 academic year after a 15-year absence. Lawrence’s second-place finish was its best showing in the conference since since the Vikings (21-15) won the league title in 1999. Lawrence’s 21 wins in 2013 is the most for the Vikings since they won 31 games back in 1999.

Sernek allowed only two singles and struck out seven while walking two to send Cornell to its first NCAA Division III Tournament appearance.

Renata Rankin powered the offense for Cornell as she went 3-for-4 and drove in five runs.

Rankin hit a three-run homer off Kara Vance in the top of the second to put the Rams up 3-0. She then added a two-run double in the fourth to give the Rams a 5-0 lead. Brianna Carney followed with a two-run homer in the fourth, and the Rams led 7-0.

Cornell added a pair of runs on Bekah Ozga’s two-run single in the seventh.

Vance went 3.1 innings and took the loss for the Vikings.

Box score

Kaye’s walk-off homer propels Lawrence into MWC championship game

APPLETON, Wis. — Cathy Kaye hit a walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the Lawrence University softball team to a 5-4 win over St. Norbert College in an elimination game on Sunday at the Midwest Conference Tournament.

The win puts Lawrence (21-14) into the MWC championship game against Cornell College at Whiting Field.

The Vikings trailed 4-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh, but lead-off hitter Alissa Geipel reached on error to start the rally. Cory Paquette then laced a double to right field, and the Vikings had runners at second and third with no outs. Kaye then smacked the first pitch from Morgan Rusch over the center field fence to win it for Lawrence.

Shannon Murray went the distance to pick up the win for Lawrence. She allowed only five hits, struck out two and did not walk a batter. Rusch took the loss, allowed seven hits, and walked one.

Cory Paquette went 2-for-3 for the Vikings, and Kaye scored two runs to go with her three runs batted in.

The Vikings went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first when Savanna Marsicek reached on an infield single, stole second and scored on Anna Wawiorka’s single. St. Norbert tied it with a run in the fourth and then added two more in the fifth.

The Vikings cut the lead to 3-2 with an unearned run. After Kaye reached on an error, she moved to second when Tierney Duffy walked. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, and Kaye then scored on Murray’s single to cut the lead to 3-2.

St. Norbert added an insurance run in the top of the seventh before Kaye’s dramatic home run won it in the bottom half of the inning.

Box score

 

Cornell tops Lawrence 6-2 at MWC Tournament

APPLETON, Wis. — The Cornell College softball team got big hits from the bottom of the order on Saturday and used that to post a 6-2 victory over Lawrence University at the Midwest Conference Tournament at Whiting Field.

Lawrence (20-14) now faces an elimination game on Sunday at 10 a.m. against St. Norbert College. Cornell (22-14) moves into Sunday’s noon championship game against the winner of the Lawrence-St. Norbert contest. The winner of the MWC Tournament receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The bottom three hitters in the Cornell lineup went 7-for-9 with both Renata Rankin and Brianna Carney both going 3-for-3. Rankin scored three of Cornell’s six runs.

Amanda Engel went the distance to pick up the win for Cornell. She allowed four hits, struck out two and walked two. Shannon Murray took the loss in relief for Lawrence. Anna Wawiorka went 2-for-3 for the Vikings.

Lawrence got a run in the second when Wawiorka singled and later scored on an error and added another run in the third when Cathy Kaye walked and scored on Shannon Murray’s double.

Cornell tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third when the Rams got consecutive singles from Rankin, Carney and Rachel Aubrey. Rankin scored on Aubrey’s single, and Carney later scored on Brittani Yost’s sacrfice fly.

The Rams added two more runs in the fourth on a solo homer from Kari Martin and Carney’s run-scoring double to go up 4-2.

Cornell sealed the win with two more runs in the sixth, and Rankin and Carney got that rally started with back-to-back singles. Kelsey Boss then belted a two-run, two-out double to put Cornell ahead 6-2.

In an earlier  game Saturday, St. Norbert defeated Lake Forest College 8-5 to eliminate the Foresters.

Box score