Softball

Category: Softball

Lawrence downs Lake Forest in extra innings in opening game of MWC Tournament

APPLETON, Wis. — Alissa Geipel scored on a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning Saturday to lift the Lawrence University softball team to a 3-2 victory over Lake Forest College in the opening game of the Midwest Conference Tournament at Whiting Field.

Lawrence (20-13) advances to play either Cornell College or St. Norbert College at 5 p.m. today. Lake Forest (17-17) will face either Cornell or St. Norbert in an elimination game at 3 p.m. today.

With the score tied at 2-2, Geipel led off the ninth with a line single to right field that got under the glove of Kayla Borgra, and Geipel ended up at second on the play.

After Cory Paquette’s sacrifice bunt moved Geipel to third, Tierney Duffy hit a fly ball to center field. Geipel raced home ahead of the throw and Lawrence led 3-2.

Borgra led off the bottom of the ninth with a single that went to the wall in the gap in right field. Cathy Kaye threw a strike to Geipel and cut down Borgra at second for the first out. Shannon Murray then retired the next two hitters to secure the win.

The Vikings got a great pitching performance from Murray, who allowed only four hits and went the distance. She struck out 11 and walked one. Jessi Werner took the loss despite a standout pitching performance for Lake Forest. Werner allowed eight hits, struck out 10 and walked four.

Alex Chiodo went 2-for-4 to pace the Vikings. Whitney Leiderman also went 2-for-4 on a pair of bunt singles for Lake Forest.

The Vikings got on the board in the top of the third when Duffy led off with a single and stole second. With two outs, Savanna Marsicek grounded back up the middle, and the ball was knocked down by second baseman Kaleigh Ambrose. Duffy never stopped running and scored on the play for a 1-0 lead.

Lawrence made it 2-0 when Murray belted a solo homer in the top of the sixth. The Foresters pulled back to even and forced extra innings when Sam Ritsema hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.

Box score

Wet field conditions force MWC Tournament move to Whiting Field

APPLETON, Wis. — The wet softball field at St. Norbert College has forced a move for the Midwest Conference Tournament to Lawrence University’s Whiting Field.

The four-team, double-elimination tournament is now scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The softball facility at Whiting Field is located between Alexander Gymnasium and the Banta Bowl on East South River Street.

Lawrence and Lake Forest College will begin play at 11 a.m., and St. Norbert takes on Cornell College at 1 p.m. The losers of the two opening games then play at 3 p.m., and the winners of the two opening games meet at 5 p.m.

The tournament resumes at 10 a.m. on Sunday with an elimination game. The championship game will follow at noon. A second championship game, if needed, would be at 2 p.m.

If field conditions allow, the tournament would move back to Mel Nicks Field in De Pere on Sunday. If the field at St. Norbert is still unplayable on Sunday, the tournament would again be played at Lawrence.

MWC Tournament games postponed, tourney to start Saturday

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University softball team’s start to the Midwest Conference Tournament will have until Saturday.

Rain and wet grounds at Mel Nicks Field in De Pere, Wis., has pushed the start of the MWC Tournament to 10 a.m. on Saturday. Lawrence will face Lake Forest College in the tournament’s opening game, and host school St. Norbert College faces Cornell College at noon. The losing teams from the two opening games play at 2 p.m. and the winners of the opening games face off at 4 p.m.

The tournament concludes on Sunday with an elimination game at 10 a.m. and the championship game at noon. A second championship game, if needed, will be played at 2 p.m.

Lawrence, winners of the league championship in 1997, 1998 and 1999, is making its first trip to the MWC Tournament since 2006.

Inside LU Athletics: Vikings set to crash MWC championship party

Lawrence University softball star Cathy Kaye takes that old expression about running through a wall for her team pretty seriously. With Lawrence’s season hanging in the balance last weekend, Kaye went crashing into the fence at Ripon College to help her Vikings.

Faced with having to win all four league games this past Saturday and Sunday to earn a spot in the Midwest Conference Tournament, the Vikings swept Carroll University and Ripon College. It was Kaye’s catch against the Red Hawks that epitomized Lawrence’s go-for-broke attitude.

“Cathy made one of the best catches I’ve seen her make during her career, and she nearly got whiplash from crashing into the fence,” Lawrence coach Kim Tatro said. “She came in smiling with blood on her teeth.”

Lawrence earned its first MWC Tournament berth since 2006 by finishing second in the North Division. St. Norbert College won the North, and Lake Forest College won the South Division with Cornell College earning the other tournament berth.

The Vikings enter the tournament with a 19-13 record and take on Lake Forest (17-16) in the opening game at 10 a.m. on Friday at Mel Nicks Field in De Pere. Host school St. Norbert (19-13) takes on Cornell (18-14) in the other opening game. The double-elimination tournament concludes Saturday with the winner receiving an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

“It’s been a few years (since Lawrence played in the tournament), and we’ve been pretty close on different occasions. To actually accomplish it is a pretty good feeling,” Tatro said.

“It’s kind of like a fresh start in some ways. We’re getting some clutch hits. We’re getting good defense and pitching well enough to win.”

The Vikings went into last weekend’s must-win games without feeling the pressure. After all, no one really expected Lawrence to pull off a four-game sweep, did they?

“It’s one of those things that we didn’t talk about,” Tatro said. “Everyone knew for sure, the team looks at the standings and the web so I’m sure they were well aware of the task at hand. Our goal was to play relaxed and play loose. We seem to play much better when we’re in that mode. I think if you look at it as a hill you have to climb, it adds stress to your life.”

The Vikings got big performances from their three seniors, Kaye, pitcher Shannon Murray and catcher Gaelen Lombard-Knapp. In the four must-win games, Murray hit .583 with four runs batted in, and she went 2-0 with two saves and posted a 0.74 earned run average.

“You can’t say enough about Shannon with her pitching, hitting and coming in for saves. I think it’s really kind of magical for the seniors,” said Tatro, adding she’s had big contributions from the first-year players as well.

The Vikings are starting four freshmen, third baseman Anna Wawiorka (.320 batting average), designated player Taylor Dodson (.305), outfielder Tierney Duffy (.277) and outfielder Savanna Marsicek (.239).

‘”We had freshmen stepping up all over the place, and our seniors couldn’t have been better at Ripon,” Tatro said.

This past weekend is a microcosm of the Lawrence season. The Vikings seem to get knocked down time and again and always rise to meet the next challenge.

“I’ve said it before. they are very resilient, and they proved that this past weekend,” Tatro said. “It doesn’t get any better than that,” Tatro said.

“I give credit to all 19 players on the roster for their mentality and their contributions. I think we have to stick to the same approach. To get tight now would be foolish. It’s about being loose and relaxed, and we have a little bit of extra confidence.”

Golfers go for gold

The Lawrence golf team also is playing in the league championships, which start Thursday at Aldeen Golf Club in Rockford, Ill.

Lawrence, which finished seventh in the team standings in 2012, has two of the league’s top players in freshmen Rudi Pino and sophomore Anton Olsson.

Pino, who carded a career-low 68 this season, leads the league with a stroke average of 75.3 and Olsson isn’t far behind at 77.0. Both players will have a shot at the title but will have to contend with the likes of Carroll’s Cody Neu, Monmouth’s Britt Bothast and St. Norbert’s Joe Martin and Nic Vrubley.

The 54-hole tournament finishes up on Saturday.

Editor’s Note: Inside LU Athletics is a notes package written by Lawrence University Director of Athletic Media Relations Joe Vanden Acker. It will feature teams and individual players, recap weekly awards or highlights and take a look at what’s ahead for the Vikings.

Vikings sweep Ripon to secure MWC Tournament berth

RIPON, Wis. — The Lawrence University softball team swept Ripon College on Sunday and earned a berth in the Midwest Conference Tournament in the process.

Lawrence (19-13, 7-7 MWC) won the opener 3-1 and took the nightcap 4-2.

The Vikings will be the No. 2 seed from the North Division when the tournament begins Friday. St. Norbert College won the North Division and will host the tournament. This is Lawrence’s first appearance in the MWC Tournament since the Vikings went five consecutive seasons from 2002-06.

Lawrence entered Sunday’s play knowing it needed a sweep of the games to advance to the MWC Tournament, and the Vikings got a standout pitching performance in the opener. Shannon Murray tossed a four-hit shutout, striking out four and walking one.

Murray went 2-for-3 and drove in a run and Anna Wawiorka also picked up a pair of hits for the Vikings.

The Vikings got on the board with an unearned run in the third. After Cathy Kaye reached on error and moved to second on the play, she scored on Murray’s single to put Lawrence up 1-0.

The Vikings added two more runs in the fourth for a 3-0 edge. Taylor Dodson got things stared with a walk and pinch-runner Gaelen Lombard-Knapp then scored on Cory Paquette’s double. After an error put sunners at the corners, Kaye singled to score Paquette.

Murray then shut Ripon (11-17, 5-9) down, retiring the Red Hawks in order in teh sixth and seventh to secure the victory.

In the nightcap, Murray and Kara Vance combined to hold off the Red Hawks. Murray made the start and went three-plus innings. Vance came on in relief to stop what could have been a big inning in the fourth.

Lawrence had taken a 3-0 in the top half of the inning when Dodson singled with the bases loaded. Mary Diduch and Alex Chiodo scored and a Ripon error allowed Alissa Geipel to also score on the play.

Ripon got two hits off Murray in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to 3-1 when Vance came in. Another run scored on a groundout, and the Vikings led 3-2.

Lawrence got a run back in the top of the fifth when Kaye singled and later scored on Murray’s single to push the lead to 4-2.

After Vance gave up a two-out single in the seventh, Murray came back in to pitch and got a popup to end the game.

Murray went 3-for-4 in the nightcap and drove in a run. Dodson and Kaye both had two hits and Dodson drove in a pair of runs.

Game one box score

Game two box score

Lawrence picks up critical doubleheader sweep against Carroll

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University softball team picked up a critical Midwest Conference doubleheader sweep of Carroll University on Saturday at Whiting Field.

Lawrence (17-13, 5-7 MWC) topped the Pioneers (12-22, 8-6) 3-1 in the opener, and the Vikings got a 3-1 victory in the nightcap.

The Vikings need a sweep of their doubleheader at Ripon College on Sunday to secure a berth in the four-team MWC Tournament next weekend.

Shannon Murray went the distance for Lawrence in the opener and allowed just one unearned run in the second inning. She gave up seven hits, struck out two and walked one. Taylor Steinhilber took the loss for Carroll.

Carroll led 1-0 when Lawrence grabbed the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. The Vikings had runners at second and third with one out when Murray’s groundout scored Tierney Duffy to tie the game. Anna Wawiorka followed with a double to score Savanna Marsicek and the Vikings led 2-1.

Lawrence manufactured a run in the fifth using Cathy Kaye’s speed. Kaye was at first when Marsicek laid down a sacrifice bunt. Kaye was streaking toward third on the play, and first baseman Chrstine Roggemann threw the ball away at third. Kaye scored on the play, and Lawrence led 3-1.

Murray worked around a lead-off single in the sixth and set the side down in order in the seventh to secure the win.

In the nightcap, Murray escaped a huge jam in the seventh to secure the victory.

The Vikings grabbed an early 2-0 lead on Murray’s run-scoring single in the first and Cory Paquette’s inside-the-park homer in the third. After Carroll cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth, the Vikings got the run back on Taylor Dodson’s RBI single in the bottom half of the inning.

Murray came in for starter Kara Vance in the top of the sixth, and then had to shut down a Carroll rally in the seventh. Lawrence led 3-1 when Carroll took advantage of an error, a single and a wild pitch to put runners at second and third with one out. Murray then struck out Hannah Sanidas looking and Kelsey Uhlenbrauck swinging to seal the victory.

Vance went 5.1 innings to earn the victory, and Murray got her fifth save of the season. Roggemann took the loss despite allowing just five hits over six innings.

Game one box score

Game two box score

Lawrence rolls to pair of shutout wins over Mount Mary

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University softball team rolled to a pair of shutout victories in a nonconference doubleheader with Mount Mary College on Thursday at Whiting Field.

The Vikings (15-13) won the opener 27-0 and took the nightcap 8-0. Lawrence broke the school record of 25 runs scored in a game, which was set against Ripon College back in 1992.

In the opener, the Vikings racked up 16 hits and took advantage of 13 walks and six Mount Mary (0-10) errors. Lawrence scored eight runs in the first inning, tacked on 10 more in the second and scored seven more times in the third to stretch the lead to 25-0.

Cathy Kaye, Mary Diduch, Alex Chiodo, Alissa Geipel and Cory Paquette all had two hits in the opener for Lawrence. Kaye, who had two doubles, Paquette, Taylor Dodson and Jessica Demski all drove in three runs.

Demski also picked up her first collegiate win by throwing four innings of one-hit relief. Kara Vance, who threw the first inning, and Demski allowed only two hits to the Blue Angels. Katie Edwards took the loss for Mount Mary.

In the nightcap, Liz Barthels tossed a one-hitter to pick up her first victory of the season. Barthels, who allowed a two-out single in the fourth, struck out six and didn’t walk a batter.

Lawrence broke a scoreless tie by scoring three times in the third inning, and the Vikings pulled away with three more runs in the third. The Vikings ended the game on the run rule by adding single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Savanna Marsicek, Diduch, Lisa Featherly and Barthels paced Lawrence’s 12-hit attack with two hits apiece. Featherly also drove in a pair of runs.

Game one box score

Game two box score

Green Knights take two from Lawrence

APPLETON, Wis. — The St. Norbert College softball team got a pair of solid pitching performances and went on to a Midwest Conference doubleheader sweep of Lawrence University on Tuesday at Whiting Field.

The Green Knights (15-11, 6-2 MWC) won the opener 4-1 and took the nightcap 5-1.

In the first game, Shannen Schmidt went the distance and allowed only five hits, struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.

St. Norbert got solo homers from Morgan Buboltz and Jessica DeMeuse, and Steph Brunette went 3-for-4 and scored a run in the opener.

Shannon Murray went the distance and took the loss for Lawrence (13-13, 3-7). She allowed eight hits, struck out three and walked two. Cathy Kaye had two hits for the Vikings.

In the nightcap, Morgan Rusch worked out of several jams and pitched all seven innings for St. Norbert. She allowed seven hits, struck out two and walked five. Murray went the distance again and gave up 10 hits, struck out one and walked two.

Emily Laufer went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs for St. Norbert. Brunette and Samantha Gross both had two hits for the Green Knights. Tierney Duffy had a pair of hits to pace the Vikings.

Lawrence returns to action on Thursday when it hosts Mount Mary College in a nonconference doubleheader.

Game one box score

Game two box score