The softball team continued its Midwest conference play this past Monday with a triple-header. Our ladies played Monmouth, Grinnell and Beloit, who are all conference opponents trying to win their spot in the Midwest Conference Tournament.
The first game of the triple-header was against Monmouth College (6-12), who just missed the playoffs last year. The Vikes began their first game cold, giving up four runs in the first inning. Monmouth pitcher Sarah Christensen went the distance and completely shut down our Vikings.
Monmouth was able to coast with their four-run lead as they defeated our Vikings 6-0. Senior Lawrence captain Carrie Van Groll and junior Amanda Hauser each had a pair of hits, more than half of the Viking hits for the game.
Discouraged at the first game, the Vikings tried to go into the game against Grinnell with a new game plan. Unfortunately Grinnell brought the best softball play of the season and, in combination with some defensive breakdowns, forced a Lawrence loss with the score 11-3 in five innings.
The game ended two innings early, denying Lawrence the chance for a comeback. There were not many highlights of the game, aside from senior Megan Butterbrodt’s monstrous three-run home run, providing all of Lawrence’s run production. Junior Jenna Reichel had two of the Vikings four hits.
With one more game to play for the day, our Vikings knew they could not come home without a win under their belt. It is then safe to say that Beloit had a treat coming their way. The Vikings did not waste any time either, scoring seven runs in the first inning.
The Vikings batted almost one-and-a-half times through the lineup before the end of the first inning! The stunned Buccaneers of Beloit College did not know how to respond as they went scoreless through the first three innings.
The Vikings piled on another four runs in the third, blocking the little sunlight the Buccaneers had for a comeback. Sophomore Meredith Foshag pitched a beauty of a game, allowing only one run in the fourth inning.
Lawrence defeated Beloit 13-1. Ten softball players received action in the game, with all Lawrence starters reaching base and scoring. Reichel, sophomore Alex Goodson, and freshman Carli Gurholt each had two hits and Foshag had a good eye, walking three times.
There is still a lot more softball to play and our ladies must play well over the next weeks to gain a possible spot in the conference tournament. The ladies play Finlandia at home Saturday. Lawrentians may cheer them on at 1 p.m. If you do not know where to go, I suggest you remember that the diamonds near Alexander Gym are our softball girls’ best friend.
Softball goes 1 and 2
