Softball

Category: Softball

Vikings rally for 7-6 win over Geneseo

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Lawrence University softball team rallied for a thrilling 7-6 nonconference victory over SUNY-Geneseo on Monday at the National Training Center.

The Vikings (3-3) were down 5-0 after two innings but struck for four runs in the third and three more in the sixth. Geneseo (2-4) scored once in the first and got four more in the second against Lawrence starter Jessica Demski.

Demski got Lawrence back in the game in the top of the third when she belted a bases-loaded, three-run double. The Vikings scored four times in the inning and trimmed the lead to 5-4.

Geneseo added another run on a solo homer in the fifth against reliever Shannon Murray to go up 6-4.

The Vikings then rallied in the top half of the sixth. Tierney Duffy led off the inning with a single and Savanna Marsicek followed with a walk. Cathy Kaye then beat out a bunt for a base hit to load the bases.

Anna Wawiorka then singled to score Duffy to cut the lead to 6-5. Murray drew a bases-loaded walk to score Marsicek and the game was tied 6-6. After a strikeout, Mary Diduch hit a chopper over the mound. The shortstop threw out Diduch, but Kaye scored on the play to give Lawrence a 7-6 lead.

After Murray retired the side in order in the sixth, the Knights mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Geneseo loaded the bases on a one-out single and a pair of walks. Murray then got a pop up for the second out and struck out Lexi Williams swinging to end the game.

Murray pitched the final three innings to get the win. She allowed two hits, struck out two and walked two.

Kaye paced Lawrence by going 2-for-4 with a double, and Duffy went 2-for-3. Alex Chiodo had a double and drove in a run for the Vikings.          

Lawrence returns to action on Tuesday when it faces Oswego State and Macalester College.

Bethany shuts out Vikings

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Bethany (W.V.) College softball team collected 12 hits and went on to a 9-0 nonconference win over Lawrence University on Monday at the National Training Center.

Bethany (4-5) got a one-hit shutout from sophomore pitcher Kiersten Conwell. She struck out five and allowed only a second-inning single to Alissa Geipel.

The Bison led 2-0 after three innings, but Bethany put the game away with four runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth.

Shannon Murray, who was battling an illness but the took the mound anyway, took the loss for Lawrence (2-3). She gave up nine hits and six runs in four innings. She struck out three and walked one.

 

Vikings lose heartbreaker to Washington and Jefferson

CLERMONT, Fla. — Washington and Jefferson College scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat the Lawrence University softball team 6-5 in a nonconference game on Saturday.

The Presidents (3-3) used two errors to put the winning run on base and then got a run-scoring double to tie the game at 5-5. Washington and Jefferson followed with a bloop single to score the winning run against reliever Shannon Murray.

Lawrence (2-2) had grabbed a 5-4 lead with a pair of runs in the top half of the seventh. Cathy Kaye led off with a walk and Murray reached on a one-out error. Katie Schumacher then doubled to score Kaye and tie the game at 4-4. Anna Wawiorka followed with another double to score Murray and put the Vikings up 5-4.

Murray paced Lawrence’s nine-hit attack by going 2-for-3 with a double, triple and two runs batted in. Wawiorka went 2-for-4 with a double and drove in a run.

Kara Vance made the start for Lawrence and left with a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth. The Presidents scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-3 lead.

Lawrence returns to action on Monday when it faces Bethany (W.V.) College and SUNY-Geneseo.

Murray fires one-hitter as Lawrence tops Benedictine

CLERMONT, Fla. — Shannon Murray fired a one-hitter as the Lawrence University softball team beat Benedictine (Ill.) University 2-0 on Saturday.

Murray struck out five and didn’t walk a batter in the first one-hitter of her career. Murray tossed a no-hitter against Grinnell College on April 14, 2012.

The only hit for Benedictine (0-1) was a one-out bunt single in the seventh inning. That runner was erased when she was thrown out attempting to steal so Murray faced the minimum of 21 batters.

Lawrence (2-1) scored both of its runs in the fifth inning. Cathy Kaye started the rally with a one-out walk, and Alex Chiodo followed with a single. Murray then doubled to score both runners with the only runs of the game.

Lawrence was limited to only four hits in the game by the Eagles, who won 33 games and the Northern Athletics Conference in 2012.

Vikings shut out St. Lawrence 2-0

CLERMONT, Fla. — Kara Vance and Shannon Murray teamed up to lead the Lawrence University softball team to a 2-0 shutout of St. Lawrence University in a nonconference game on Friday.

Vance went six-plus innings and allowed seven hits while striking out four and walking one. Murray came on in the seventh and retired the next three hitters in order to pick up the save.

Lawrence (1-1) picked up single runs in the third and fifth and that was enough for Vance and Murray.

Cathy Kaye, who went 2-3 with a double, started the rally in the third with a one-out single. Kaye then stole second and scored on Alex Chiodo’s single to put the Vikings up 1-0.

Lawrence made it 2-0 in the fifth when Kaye led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on Murray’s groundout.

Vance worked out of two bases-loaded jams to preserve the shutout. St. Lawrence (6-6) had four consecutive hits in the second inning but failed to score. Center fielder Tierney Duffy threw a runner out at the plate for the first out of that inning, and Vance struck out the next two hitters to retire the side.

Vikings edged by St. Scholastica in opener

CLERMONT, Fla. — The College of St. Scholastica held on for a 6-5 nonconference victory over the Lawrence University softball team on Friday in the season opener for the Vikings.

The Saints (5-4) pulled out to a 6-0 lead before the Vikings (0-1) rallied. Lawrence scored four times in the top of the sixth with the help of three St. Scholastica errors.

The Vikings loaded the bases on singles from Shannon Murray and Taylor Dodson, and Anna Wawiorka then reached on an error. Katie Schumacher singled to drive in a run and Alissa Geipel followed with a run-scoring groundout to cut the lead to 6-2. Back-to-back errors then scored Wawiorka and Schumacher to cut the lead to 6-4.

The Vikings then loaded the bases again in the seventh. Wawiorka hit into a fielder’s choice to score Alex Chiodo to cut the lead to 6-5, but the Saints got a pair of fly ball outs to end the game.

Murray went 3-for-4 to pace the Lawrence offense, and Cathy Kaye went 2-for-3 with a double.

Murray took the loss, allowing seven hits while striking out six and walking two. Darcy Roach got the win, allowing nine hits, striking out six and walking four.

Inside LU Athletics: Vikings finding the right mix on softball diamond

The Lawrence University softball team has yet to feel the warm sunshine on their faces, but coach Kim Tatro has seen enough to know her Vikings will be better this season.

“We’re definitely an improved squad. We can say that with complete confidence,” said Tatro, who enters her 20th season at Lawrence.

“It’s kind of a perfect storm of a good combination of returning talent supplemented with new talent. I always have to be cautiously optimistic, but I sure like where we are right now with as much as we can tell being in the gym.”

Lawrence finally gets outside when the Vikings begin play Friday at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. The Vikings are scheduled to play 12 games over eight days before returning home.

Lawrence, which went 9-22 last season, will rely on its mix of proven returning players and a host of stellar rookies. The Vikings have 20 players on the roster, making this the biggest squad Tatro has ever had.

“It’s nice to have a variety of potential lineups based on our roster size,” Tatro said. “That gives us some variables we haven’t had in the past.”

One thing that hasn’t changed from a season ago is the Vikings’ reliance on pitcher Shannon Murray. An All-Midwest Conference and All-Great Lakes Region selection last season, Murray will throw the bulk of the innings for the Vikings.

“Shannon looks terrific,” Tatro said. “Good leadership, quality performance, works as hard as anyone on the team. She’s a complete package.”

Murray went 8-14 a season ago with a 3.70 earned run average. She struck out 107 and walked only 19 last season in 143.2 innings. Murray also led the team with a .344 batting average and drove in a team-high 21 runs. She also led the team with nine doubles and two triples and she hit a pair of homers.

“We definitely need Shannon’s bat in the lineup,” Tatro said. “Whether it’s the DP (designated player) or at first base.”

The Vikings have more pitching options this season to support Murray. Sophomores Kara Vance and Liz Barthels are back, and the Vikings also have freshmen Katie Schumacher and Jessica Demski.

“I think they all have different strengths,” Tatro said of her pitching staff. “It’s nice to have options. We won’t know the answers until we play.”

The Vikings also have options behind the plate. After missing last season due to injury, senior Gaelen Lombard-Knapp is back. She was the starter behind the plate in 2011 when she hit .241 and drove in 13 runs. Junior Alex Chiodo started the bulk of the games behind the plate last season.

“Gaelen has done a nice job orchestrating the defense and calling things,” Tatro said. “The other person it’s nice to have back there is Alex Chiodo.”

The rest of the infield also has strong returning players. Junior Cory Paquette is back at second base after hitting .268 a season ago. Junior Alissa Geipel, who has started at third and in the outfield, has made a “really good” transition to shortstop, according to Tatro.

Murray, Schumacher and Chiodo could all see action at first depending on who is pitching. Freshman Anna Wawiorka looks to be manning the hot corner at third but could also fill in at catcher.

The outfield is anchored by senior Cathy Kaye, an all-conference and all-region selection during her career. Kaye hit .270 last season with seven doubles, a triple, a team-high four homers and 19 runs batted in. She also swiped 13 bases and was only caught once.

Kaye will be coupled with rookies Tierney Duffy and Savanna Marsicek in the outfield. The Vikings also have great depth in the outfield with returning players Mary Diduch and Brielle Bartes in the mix.

“The quickness, the arm strength of the two freshman (Duffy and Marsicek) and their abilities at the plate are outstanding,” Tatro said. “You couple those two with Anna and they could be the three fastest kids on the team.”

Tatro also is looking for a spot for freshman Taylor Dodson, who “right now she could be one of our most consistent hitters.”

“You don’t want to get so excited that you look past the fact that you have inexperience in the lineup, but when see their ability and what they do in practice day in and day out, you have to think that will transfer onto the field,” Tatro said. “I know we’re going to have some growing pains from time to time, but I like where we’re at right now.”

Tough trip

The Vikings will face some challenges when they begin play in Florida. Lawrence faces a host of teams that had success last season. Lawrence’s opponents in the Sunshine State averaged 20.5 wins last season and two of them had more than 30 victories.

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.

Murray picks up NFCA all-region honors

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

Murray (Lawrenceville, Ga./Dacula) was a third-team selection. This marks the second time Murray has been chosen for the all-region team. Murray, who was an All-Midwest Conference selection this spring as well, was a third-team all-region selection in 2010.

Murray led the team in hitting with a .344 average and was the team’s top pitcher. Murray had a team-best nine doubles, tied for the team lead with two triples, smacked two homers and drove in a team-high 21 runs. Murray finished with an impressive .956 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).

On the mound, Murray posted an 8-14 record with a 3.70 earned run average. Murray struck out 107 and walked only 19 in 143.2 innings.

This marks the 16th consecutive season that Lawrence has had at least one all-region selection.

Murray tabbed for All-Midwest Conference squad

Lawrence University softball standout Shannon Murray has been chosen for the All-Midwest Conference North Division team in a vote by league coaches.

Murray (Lawrenceville, Ga./Dacula), a junior pitcher/infielder, was chosen for the team for the first time.

Murray hit .292 in eight conference games with one double, one homer and two runs batted in. She also posted a 2-6 record on the mound with a 3.37 earned run average. Murray struck out 37 and walked six in 52 innings.

On the season, Murray hit a team-high .344 with nine doubles, two triples, two homers and 21 runs batted in. Murray led the team in doubles, tied for the team lead in triples and led the team in RBIs.

Murray finished with an 8-14 record and a 3.70 ERA on the mound. She struck out 107 and walked only 19 in 143.2 innings. Murray also tossed the second no-hitter of her career and only the third in Lawrence history when the Vikings beat Grinnell College 12-0 on April 14.

This was second post-season honor in Murray’s career. She was chosen for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Great Lakes Region team in 2010.

Tatro gets career win No. 300 as Vikings end season on winning note

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Lawrence University softball coach Kim Tatro picked up career win No. 300 on Sunday as the Vikings split a Midwest Conference doubleheader with Carroll University.

Carroll took the opener 2-1, and the Vikings won the nightcap 8-5.

The victory in the second game gave Tatro her 300th win and improved her record to 300-281-1 over 19 seasons at Lawrence. Tatro has more victories (391 combined with softball and volleyball) than any coach in Lawrence history.

Lawrence (9-22, 2-6 MWC) trailed 2-0 in the nightcap before scoring three runs in the top of the third. Brielle Bartes led off the inning with her first homer of the season, and the Vikings then loaded the bases. Lawrence added two more runs on a ground out and Cory Paquette’s single to go up 3-2.

The Vikings added two more runs in the fourth without a hit as the Pioneers committed and error and threw a pair of wild pitches. Carroll (19-12, 5-3) cut the lead to 5-3 with a run in the bottom half of the inning, but Lawrence rallied again in the top of the fifth.

Coley LaChance and Shannon Murray started the inning with singles and moved to second and third on an error. Cathy Kaye lifted a sacrifice fly to score LaChance, and Kara Vance added a run-scoring single to give the Vikings a 7-3.

Lawrence added a run in the sixth on Alex Chiodo’s RBI single, but Carroll cut the lead to 8-5 with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Murray then a perfect seventh to seal the win.

Emily Perish, Chiodo, Paquette and Vance all had two hits to pace the Vikings in the nightcap. Murray went the distance to pick up the win.

In the opener, Carroll scored twice in the second, and all Lawrence could muster was a single run in the fifth.

Lawrence loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Carroll pitcher Taylor Steinhilber got Alissa Geipel to ground out to end the game. Steinhilber went the distance to pick up the win, and Murray took the loss.

Game one box score

Game two box score