Softball

Category: Softball

Vikings sweep doubleheader from North Central

The Lawrence University softball team pounded out 23 hits in the doubleheader and got two solid pitching performances to sweep a nonconference doubleheader from North Central (Minn.) University on Wednesday at Whiting Field.

Lawrence (10-11) won the opener 8-0 and took the nightcap 17-3.

In the opener, Emily Perish went 4-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in, and Carli Gurholt was 2-for-2 and blasted a two-run homer for the Vikings. Alissa Geipel and Brielle Bartes, both freshmen, both hit their first career homers in the first game.

Shannon Murray went the distance, allowing three hits, striking out seven and walking none, to pick up the win. Danielle Anderson went the distance and took the loss.

Lawrence jumped on the Rams (9-8) in the bottom of the first with four runs. Gurholt hit a two-run homer in the inning and Perish picked up a run-scoring single.

Bartes led off the fourth with a homer, and the Vikings added another run in the fifth to lead 6-0. Lawrence put the game away with two more runs in the sixth. Geipel led off the inning with a homer, and Perish delivered a run-scoring single to end the game.

In the nightcap, Cathy Kaye went 2-for-4 and drove in four runs to pace the Lawrence offense. Murray was 2-for-4, homered and drove in three runs, and Alex Chiodo and Cory Paquette both went 2-for-2.

Perish went the distance to pick up the win. She allowed six hits, struck out five and didn’t walk a batter. Bethany Bostrom gave up 12 hits, struck out one and walked four to take the loss.

After giving up two runs in the top of the first, the Vikings struck back with four in the bottom half of the inning. Perish had a two-run single in the inning, and Chiodo picked up a run-scoring double.

Lawrence led 5-2 when it scored three times in the third with two runs scoring on Kaye’s single.

The Vikings then sealed the win with nine runs in the fourth. Kaye smacked a two-run double inside the bag at third, and Murray blasted a three-run homer to complete the scoring.

Lawrence returns to action on Saturday when it travels to the University of Chicago.

Game one box score

Game two box score

Vikings wrap up MWC Classic with win over Grinnell

JANESVILLE, Wis. — The Lawrence University softball team jumped on Grinnell College early and rolled to a 9-2 victory over Grinnell College on Sunday in the final game of the Midwest Conference Classic.

Lawrence (8-11, 3-4 MWC) finished with a 3-2 record against South Division opponents at the Classic.

Alissa Geipel went 3-for-5 with four runs scored and three runs batted in to pace the Lawrence offense. Shannon Murray, Alex Chiodo and Brielle Bartes all had two hits apiece for the Vikings.

Emily Perish went the distance, striking out two and walking one, to earn the victory.

Brianna Gallo went 4-for-4 to lead Grinnell (0-21, 0-5).

The Vikings led 1-0 after Murray’s RBI double in the first and then added four runs in the second. Geipel had a two-run single in the inning, and Cathy Kaye and Carli Gurholt added run-scoring singles.

The Vikings added single runs in the third and fourth and picked up two runs in the fifth. Geipel had a RBI double in the fifth, and Cory Paquette picked up a run-scoring single in that inning to complete the scoring.

Amanda Stromquist allowed 15 hits over seven innings and took the loss for Grinnell.

Box score

Monmouth downs Vikings

JANESVILLE, Wis. — The Monmouth College softball team scored three times in the bottom of the fifth to break a tie and went on to a 7-4 nonconference victory over Lawrence University on Sunday at the Midwest Conference Classic.

The Scots (11-8, 6-0 MWC) broke a 3-3 tie with three unearned runs in the fifth. A two-out error allowed the first run to score in the inning, and Monmouth added two more runs on a wild pitch and a single.

Five Monmouth players had two hits apiece, including Caitlin Lingle, who was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Emily Perish and Katie Simonsen had two hits apiece for the Vikings (7-11, 2-4).

Lawrence trailed 3-0, but the Vikings got a run in the fourth on Perish’s RBI single to trim the lead to 3-1. Lawrence then tied the game in the fifth when Cathy Kaye and Alissa Geipel both delivered run-scoring singles.

After Monmouth took the 6-3 lead, Lawrence countered with a run in the sixth on Simonsen’s run-scoring ground out. Monmouth countered with a run of its own in the bottom of the sixth, and the Vikings went down in order in the seventh.

Shannon Murray went the distance and took the loss for Lawrence. Morgan Werkheiser picked up the win in relief.

Box score

Lake Forest rallies to top Vikings

JANESVILLE, Wis. — The Lake Forest College softball team used a pair of homers to take the lead and went on to a 14-5 victory on Saturday over Lawrence University at the Midwest Conference Classic at Dawson Park.

The Vikings (7-10, 2-3 MWC) grabbed an early 5-2 against Lake Forest with three runs in the first inning and two more in the second.

The Foresters scored two in the third and then got a solo homer in the fourth to tie the game at 5-5. The Foresters added a two-run homer in the fifth to take the lead and then scored seven times in the seventh to pull away.

Lake Forest picked up 18 hits against three Lawrence pitchers.

Shannon Murray went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs to pace the Vikings. Alissa Geipel went 2-for-3 with a double, and Cathy Kaye was 2-for-2.

Emily Perish was the starter and took the loss for Lawrence.

The Vikings return to action on Sunday at the MWC Classic when they face Monmouth College and Grinnell College.

Box score

Vikings rally past Illinois College

JANESVILLE, Wis. — The Lawrence University softball team rallied for a 6-4 victory over Illinois College on Saturday at the Midwest Conference Classic at Dawson Park.

Lawrence (7-9, 2-2 MWC) scored in each of the final five innings to overcome an early two-run deficit.

Illinois College grabbed the lead with three runs in the bottom of the third. Lawrence trimmed the margin to 3-2 with a run in the top of the fourth.

Lawrence then took a 4-3 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth. The Vikings added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh to seal the victory.

Shannon Murray went the distance to pick up the win. She allowed eight hits, struck out four and walked four.

Freshman Brielle Bartes went 3-for-4 and drove in a run to pace the Lawrence offense, which collected nine hits. Carli Gurholt was 2-for-4 and Emily Perish went 2-for-3 for the Vikings.

Box score

Lawrence roughs up Prairie Fire

JANESVILLE, Wis. — The Lawrence University softball team got the Midwest Conference Classic off to a great start on Saturday with a 12-4 victory in five innings over Knox College.

Knox took the early lead with a pair of runs in the first inning, but the Vikings (6-9, 1-2) took command with six runs in the second. Lawrence, which pounded out 14 hits in only four innings, then added six more in the fourth to seal the victory.

Shannon Murray was one of five Vikings to pick up a pair of hits against the Prairie Fire. Murray went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three runs batted in.

Katie Simonsen went 2-for-3 and drove in a game-high four runs. Cathy Kaye and Alissa Geipel both went 2-for-4 with a double and Kaye knocked in two runs. Emily Perish also went 2-for-3.

Perish pitched all five innings to pick up the win. She struck out one and didn’t walk a batter.

Box score

Inside LU Athletics: Versatile Vikings look for winning combination

You don’t want to bet on what the lineup for the Lawrence University softball team is going to be from day to day because the odds of picking the right one are slightly better than winning the Powerball.

The Vikings have used 10 different lineups in their 14 games this season, a product of the versatility of the players and a search for a winning combination.

“If you sit and study the box scores, the lineups have changed quite a bit. We knew that was going to be the case going into the season,” Lawrence coach Kim Tatro said.

“We’re trying to figure out which lineup makes us most effective. As crazy as this may sound, because of the youth of the team and the versatility of the players, it may fluctuate as we go through the season.”

No player has batted in the same spot in the lineup in every game this season. To point out just how much things vary from game to game, the Vikings have had seven different players hit in the seventh spot in the lineup.

“I don’t know that we’ll develop the continuity we’ve had in previous years where it was here’s the lineup and you know what it is,” Tatro said. “I hope we can settle on something and run with it.”

The 13 players have seen action this season with a minimum of five games played but only six players have started all 14 games.

While Lawrence knew it had young but talented players returning, the Vikings have also received solid contributions from a number of freshmen. Former Manitowoc Roncalli star Cory Paquette, Alissa Geipel, Alex Chiodo and Brielle Bartes have all had key moments in games thus far this season. That means Tatro has options, and the Vikings take on a different look each time they take the field.

“We have people waiting in the wings to get opportunities and they deserve the opportunity if the people in those positions aren’t performing,” Tatro said.

Senior shortstop Carli Gurholt, a former star at Amherst High School, has been powering the offense with a team-high .452 batting average to go along with seven doubles, one triple, one home run and 14 runs batted in.

“Carli is hitting the ball a ton right now and we need her to do that,” Tatro said.

Sophomore Shannon Murray is hitting .409 with a team-high 15 RBI and has a team-high three victories on the mound. Junior Emily Perish has been Murray’s counterpart on the mound and is hitting .351 with 11 RBI.

Sophomore and Sturgeon Bay native Cathy Kaye also broke through on Monday at Alverno College, where she went 6-for-9 in the doubleheader with two doubles, two homers and five RBI. She raised her average 77 points on Monday to .333.

“Emily and Cathy have stepped it up a little bit and we need that. We need balanced production,” Tatro said. “Everyone needs to pull their weight offensively.”

The Vikings are hitting .288 as a team heading into this weekend’s Midwest Conference Classic in Janesville. Lawrence will face the five South Division teams over the course of two days, and the Vikings need a solid showing after dropping a pair of games to Beloit College to open conference play.

“You can throw the records out the window,” Tatro said of playing in the MWC  Classic. “I think everybody has played a different schedule so it’s about who you’re going to match up with. Will it be their No. 1 against your No. 3 or whatever.

“It’s a game of momentum. If you open up and hit well and you get on a roll, that can carry over. Conversely, the other thing can happen if you struggle in the opening game.”

Streak snapped

Freshman Luke Barthelmess had his 14-game hit streak snapped when he went 0-for-4 in the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader with Monmouth College. Barthlemess is hitting .321 on the season with a homer and four RBI.

Sophomore Davide Harris has an eight-game hit streak currently after picking up three hits in the doubleheader against Monmouth.

Editor’s Note: Inside LU Athletics is a weekly notes package written by Lawrence University Sports Information Director 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.

Softball shuffles dates with St. Norbert, Marian

The Lawrence University softball doubleheader has changed game dates for its doubleheaders with St. Norbert College and Marian University. Lawrence will now host St. Norbert on Tuesday, April 26, at 3 p.m. at Whiting Field. The Vikings will travel to Marian to play the Sabres on Thursday, April 28 at 3 p.m. The Vikings are set to return to action on Saturday and Sunday when they face the five South Division teams at the Midwest Conference Classic in Janesville, Wis.

Offense carries Vikings to sweep of Alverno

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Lawrence University softball team pounded out 24 hits and scored 22 runs en route to a nonconference doubleheader sweep of Alverno College on Monday.

Lawrence won the opener 11-6 and took the nightcap 11-8 at Alverno Field.

In the first game, Cathy Kaye paced Lawrence’s 11-hit attack by going 4-for-5 with a home run, two runs batted in and two runs scored. Carli Gurholt went 3-for-3 with a homer, drove in three runs and scored a pair of runs. Emily Perish was 3-for-4 and drove in three runs.

Lawrence (5-9) scored three times in the first courtesy of Gurholt’s three-run homer. The Vikings made it 5-0 in the third on Perish’s two-run single.

The Inferno (4-12) cut it to 5-4 in the bottom of the third, but Kaye belted a solo homer to make it 6-4 in the top of the fourth. Alverno tied it at 6-6 with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Lawrence took the lead for good by scoring twice in the top of the sixth. The Vikings scored after a walk and throwing error, and Kaye followed with a run-scoring double to give Lawrence a 8-6 lead.

Lawrence put the game away with three runs in the seventh. Perish hit a bullet down the right field line to score the first run, and Brielle Bartes capped the rally with a two-run single up the middle.

Perish pitched the first five innings to pick up the win. Jamie Villalobos went six innings and took the loss.

In the nightcap, Shannon Murray went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs for the Vikings. She also went the distance on the mound to pick up the win.

Kaye went 2-for-4, hit another homer, and drove in three runs in the second game. Bartes and Cory Paquette both had two hits apiece for the Vikings.

Lawrence raced out to a big lead before Alverno rallied in the nightcap. 

Kaye led off the game with homer as part of a three-run first for the Vikings. Lawrence added another run in the second and picked up two more in the third to lead 6-1.

The Vikings then scored five times in the fifth on six hits and three Alverno errors. Kaye had a run-scoring double in the inning, and Perish picked up a RBI single to help Lawrence forge an 11-1 lead.

Alverno countered by scoring three times in the bottom of the fifth to cut it to 11-4. Chelsea Gulbronson then hit a three-run homer as part of a four-run sixth inning to trim the lead to 11-8.

Murray then set the Inferno down in order in the seventh to seal the win. Murray allowed 13 hits, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter. Emily Snell pitched the first five innings and took the loss.

Game one box score

Game two box score 

Vikings drop pair to Beloit

BELOIT, Wis. — The Beloit College softball team posted a Midwest Conference doubleheader sweep of Lawrence University on Saturday by the scores of 3-0 and 13-5 at the Strong Complex Field.

In the opener, Katy Sandt scattered six hits over seven innings to post the shutout for Beloit (4-10, 2-0 MWC).

Beloit scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the sixth against Lawrence starter Shannon Murray. The big blow in the inning was Kandace Fox’s two-run double.

In the nightcap, the Bucs hit Lawrence starter Emily Perish hard. Beloit collected 12 hits against Perish in four inning.

Beloit scored eight times on six hits in the bottom of the first to take command. Sarah Stariha led Beloit by going 4-for-5 and scoring three runs in the nightcap.

Tess Jacquez pitched four innings to pick up the win for Beloit. She allowed five runs in six hits. Gaelen Lombard-Knapp went 2-for-3 and Carli Gurholt drove in a pair of runs for Lawrence (3-9, 0-2).

Game one box score

Game two box score