Softball

Category: Softball

Maroons power to sweep of Lawrence

CHICAGO, Ill. — The University of Chicago used a pair of home runs to power its way to a nonconference doubleheader sweep of Lawrence University on Saturday at Stagg Field.

Vicky Tomaka hit a pinch-hit two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to help the Maroons (11-5) win the opener 3-2, and Kaitlyn Carpenter hit a three-run inside-the-park homer in Chicago’s 6-2 victory in the nightcap.

Lawrence (8-6) managed only three hits in the opener, but the Vikings scratched out a run in the second to tie the game at 1-1. The Vikings loaded the based in the second on a pair of walks and Cory Paquette’s single. Katie Schumacher was then hit with a pitch to force Alissa Geipel home and tie the game.

The Vikings took the lead with a run in the sixth. Anna Wawiorka led off with a double and moved to third on a bunt. Wawiorka scored on Taylor Dodson’s ground ball, and Lawrence led 2-1.

The Maroons started the winning rally in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out infield single. Tomaka then homered off Lawrence starter Shannon Murray to win it. Murray allowed six hits, struck out two and did not walk a batter.

In the nightcap, Lawrence took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second after Wawiorka started the rally with a single. After Alex Chiodo’s bunt single, Wawiorka scored on Dodson’s bunt single. A throwing error then allowed Chiodo to score and Lawrence had the lead.

It didn’t last long as Chicago struck for three runs in the bottom half of the inning. With two runners aboard, Carpenter’s slicing line drive to left field eluded a diving Tierney Duffy and all three runs scored to give Chicago a 4-2 lead. Carpenter went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs.

The Maroons added single runs in the fourth and sixth against Lawrence starter Kara Vance. Vance allowed nine hits, struck out four and walked one.

Cathy Kaye went 2-for-4 to pace Lawrence’s offense.

Game one box score

Game two box score

Inside LU Athletics: Vikings put some bounce back in their game

It’s not often you open a season with a loss and hope that sets the tone for the campaign.

The Lawrence University softball team opened its season in Clermont, Fla., against the College of St. Scholastica, which won more than 30 games in 2012 and played in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The talented Saints blew out to a 6-0 lead, but the Vikings rallied and St. Scholastica had to hang on for a 6-5 win.

“To fight back — that kind of set the tone for the whole week,” said Lawrence coach Kim Tatro, now in her 20th season with the Vikings. “We can battle with anyone and that should be the goal. They kind of proved it all week. The consistency of their reslience is something we were pleased with. Hopefully, that sets us up for games up here with a different level of confidence.”

Lawrence finished its spring break trip with an 8-4 record, the best nonconference mark of any team in the Midwest Conference’s North Division. The Vikings won two games after trailing, including a 5-0 deficit to Geneseo State, and won two more games after being tied late.

“We played in a  lot of really close games, and in the past we probably would not have won half of those,” Tatro said. “Very resilient, battling. I felt like every game we were in we did battle back to win.”

That is a nice change from last season when the Vikings finished 9-22 and lost eight games by one or two runs.

“The biggest change I see, other than the talent level and the resilience, it’s a lot of the same people taking the next step to believe,” Tatro said. “That factor in and of itself can go a long way.”

The core of Lawrence’s team returned from last season and that group played well in Florida.

Senior pitcher/infielder Shannon Murray went 5-3 with three saves and a 2.47 earned run average despite dealing with an illness during the week. Murray, who hit .333, struck out 31 and walked only eight while allowing opponents to hit just .244. 

“Shannon was as solid as she’s been in her career,” Tatro said. “Not only was she winning game as a starter, but she came in in critical situations to save games.” 

Junior catcher Alex Chiodo led the team with a .393 batting average and tied with Murray and Cathy Kaye for the team lead with eight runs batted in. Kaye, a senior outfielder, hit .342 and smacked a team-high seven doubles. Sophomore pitcher Kara Vance went 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA and was part of two shutouts.

Lawrence also has a very talented freshmen class, and Tatro said many of the rookies played critical roles at different times and in different situations during that week. That is a great omen for the Vikings.

“We have a lot of options. A lot of people stepping up at different times,” Tatro said.

“When you have that ability, and people are actually stepping up and doing it, it just helps the team walk around with an air of confidence.”

The Vikings now have to wait for Mother Nature to cooperate so they can get back out on the field. The team spent several days clearing the field of snow, including drifts several feet deep.

“There is a lot of positive energy. We want to be outside and get back at it,” Tatro said. “There are a lot of things we can improve upon. We’re nowhere near where we can be on offense and defense. They are itching to get back out there to play. … It would be nice to get back at it with something other than a shovel.”

Lawrence is scheduled to play doubleheaders this weekend at the University of Chicago and Rockford College.

Big Benz

The Vikings knew they would have a hole in one spot in the lineup after the graduation of All-Midwest Conference third baseman Eric Bohling, but newcomer Aaron Benz has filled in quite nicely.

Benz, who is starting in the outfield, is currently on a team-best seven-game hitting streak. The junior, who transferred from UW-Oshkosh, is hitting .378 with a team-high 12 runs batted in. 

Sights set on big brother

Senior tennis player Jason Dunn picked up career singles win No. 51 when he won at No. 2 against Knox College last Saturday. Dunn, now in second place on Lawrence’s career list,  is just nine wins shy of tying his brother, Ryan, for the top spot.

The Vikings have seven scheduled matches remaining and the Midwest Conference Championships. Lawrence could play two additional dual matches if it qualifies for the MWC Team Tournament.

Lawrence rallies late to down D’Youville

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Lawrence University softball team rallied for single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to down D’Youville College 3-2 in a nonconference game on Friday at the National Training Center.

Shannon Murray went 3-for-3, drove in a run and picked up the save for Lawrence (8-4). Kara Vance got the win and went 2-for-3 with a run batted in.

Lawrence trailed 2-1 heading into the sixth inning, but the Vikings tied it in that frame. Alex Chiodo led off the inning with a walk, and pinch-runner Mary Diduch swiped second. After a strikeout, Vance doubled to score Diduch and tie the game at 2-2.

The Vikings then mounted a two-out rally in the seventh to surge ahead. Murray started the rally with a single, and Anna Wawiorka followed with a run-scoring double to give Lawrence a 3-2 lead.

Vance gave up a lead-off single in the bottom of the seventh, and Murray came on to close out the Spartans (0-3). Murray retired the next three batters in order to earn the save. Vance allowed seven hits, struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Lawrence grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first when Kaye doubled and later scored on Murray’s double. D’Youville scored twice in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead.

Timely hitting helps Vikings down Hope

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Lawrence University softball team got some timely hitting and took advantage of four Hope College in a 5-2 nonconference win over the Flying Dutch on Friday at the National Training Center.

Shannon Murray went the distance to earn the victory for Lawrence (7-4). Murray allowed five hits, struck out two and walked one.

Lawrence jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. A fielder’s choice and a pair of walks loaded the bases for Lawrence, and Alex Chiodo delivered a bases-clearing triple to give the Vikings a 3-0 edge.

The Vikings made it 4-0 with a run in the second. After Cory Paquette reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, Cathy Kaye smacked a double to score Paquette.

Lawrence increased the lead to 5-0 with a run in the third. An infield single and error put Anna Wawiorka on second. After a walk, both runners moved up on a passed ball, and Chiodo delivered a sacrifice fly to score Wawiorka.

Wawiorka went 2-for-2 and was the only player with more than one hit for the Vikings, who finished with four hits.

Hope (6-7) got two runs in the fourth to trim the margin to three runs, but that’s as close as the Dutch would get.

Vance, Murray team up to shut out Framingham State 2-0

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Lawrence University softball team rode the shutout pitching of Kara Vance and Shannon Murray to a 2-0 nonconference victory over Framingham State University on Thursday at the National Training Center.

Vance and Murray combined to allow only six hits as Lawrence (6-4) posted its third shutout of the young season. Vance started and went five innings, allowing five hits. Murray picked up the save by pitching two innings, allowing one hit, striking out two and walking one.

Cathy Kaye paced Lawrence’s offense by going 2-for-3 and driving in a run.

Lawrence got all the offense it would need against Framingham State starter Yaya Faria in the third inning. Vance started the rally with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, Kaye delivered a run-scoring single and Lawrence led 1-0.

The Vikings made it 2-0 with a run in the fifth. Savanna Marsicek drew a one-out walk and stole second after a fly out. Tierney Duffy then came through with a double down the left field line to score Marsicek.

Faria went the distance for the Rams (0-8), allowing six hits, striking out seven and walking one.

Lawrence wraps up its spring break trip to Florida with games on Friday against Hope College and D’Youville College.

Marsicek homer lifts Vikings past Babson

CLERMONT, Fla. — Freshman Savanna Marsicek hit her first collegiate home run to lift the Lawrence University softball team to a 2-1 victory over Babson College on Thursday at the National Training Center.

Marsicek broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the fifth inning with a one-out inside-the-park homer to right field. Marsicek finished the game 2-for-2. Another rookie, outfielder Tierney Duffy, went 2-for-3 for the Vikings (5-4).

Shannon Murray went the distance to pick up the win for Lawrence. She allowed six hits, struck out three and walked one.

Lawrence took a 1-0 lead in the third after Marsicek reached on error after laying down a sacrifice bunt. Babson (4-5) later threw out lead runner Cory Paquette, but the Vikings got a single from Duffy and a run-scoring single from Murray to plate Marsicek.

The Beavers tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth when Catie Funk doubled and scored on Emily Morris’ double.

After the Vikings took the lead in the fifth, Murray allowed only a two-out walk in the fifth and a two-out double in the sixth.

Christina Miquel went the distance and took the loss for Babson. She gave up eight hits, struck out four and walked one.

Kaye drives in six as Vikings rout Macalester

CLERMONT, Fla. — Cathy Kaye drove in six runs to lead the Lawrence University softball team to a 9-1 nonconference victory over Macalester College on Tuesday at the National Training Center.

The six runs batted in by Kaye, who finished 2-for-4, matches the second-highest game total in Lawrence history. The record of seven was set by Jenny Schmidt against Wisconsin Lutheran College back in 1990.

The game was tied at 1-1 heading to the bottom of the fourth when Lawrence (4-4) loaded the bases on two errors and a walk. Kaye then cleared the bases with a three-run double to give the Vikings a 4-1 edge.

The Vikings then ended the game with five runs in the fifth. Anna Wawiorka, who went 2-for-3, started the rally with a double. Alex Chiodo, who also went 2-for-3, followed with a single. Cory Paquette’s bunt single loaded the bases, and Katie Schumacher drew a bases-loaded walk to put Lawrence up 5-1.

After a passed ball scored another run, Savanna Marsicek walked to load the bases again. Kaye blasted another three-run double to give the Vikings a 9-1 lead to end the game on the eight-run rule.

Shannon Murray went the distance to pick up the win. She allowed six hits, struck out one and walked one. Alisha Barritt started and took the loss for Macalester (7-4).

Lakers top Lawrence 8-5

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Oswego State University softball team jumped out to a big lead and held on for an 8-5 nonconference victory over Lawrence University on Tuesday at the National Training Center.

The Lakers (3-6) jumped out to a 4-1 lead through three innings, but Lawrence freshman Katie Schumacher blasted her first collegiate homer, a solo shot, in the fourth to trim the margin to 4-2.

Oswego came right back and scored three times in the bottom of the fourth to knock out Lawrence starter Liz Barthels. She allowed seven runs on nine hits.

Lawrence (3-4) cut into the margin with three runs in the top of the sixth. Shannon Murray drove in a run in her only plate appearance of the game with a single in the sixth. Tierney Duffy also had a run-scoring single in the inning, and Jessica Demski drew a bases-loaded walk as the Vikings cut the margin to 7-5.

Oswego added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth in support of winner Alexis Nasca. She gave up six hits, struck out one and walked three.