The Lawrence University baseball team competed this Saturday in a double-header against the Beloit Buccaneers at Beloit’s Strong Stadium. In this first weekend of Conference play, the Vikings lost both games by scores of 5-0 and 4-3, respectively. Another double-header was scheduled for Sunday; however these games have been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 8. After this weekend, the Viking’s overall record fell to 2-10 and 0-2 in Midwest Conference (MWC) play.
Coming off a successful spring break trip, the Vikings entered this weekend on an optimistic note. “We thought that the spring break trip had prepared us to compete with any team,” said freshman pitcher Joe Krivit. “We believed that we have the talent to win all of the games we play.” The Vikings, however, were shutout in the first game as Beloit sophomore pitcher Ryan Kaveney struck out 13 batters and only allowed four hits. Lawrence starting pitcher Davis Ogilvie allowed four hits in 4.2 innings and took the loss.
In the second game, the Vikings showed a little more spark on offense. Lawrence’s bats were hot in the first inning as the Vikings were scored three runs off of hits from juniors Jake Gordon and Luke Zablocki. Despite this, the Vikings were unable to score a run in the following innings and Beloit closed the deficit. By the beginning of the seventh inning, the score was 3-3. Beloit then scored in the bottom of the seventh on an unearned run to bring the score to 4-3. With that run, the Buccaneers closed out the game and starting pitcher Jim Leyhane earned the victory.
Overall, this Saturday’s games were characterized by quiet bats and a lack of offense. “We didn’t hit the ball as well as we did over spring break,” says Krivit. “Over spring break, we were pounding the ball, but down at Beloit it wasn’t the same. We know we can hit and we know that we can hit well. It’s something that will come.”
Improved hitting combined with consistent fielding and pitching will make this Viking baseball team very hard to beat. Look for the Vikings to finish the series against Beloit on Tuesday at LU’s Whiting Field. The Vikings will travel to play Carroll University on April 12 and 13.