The Vikings have played many games in a short time span. Their stretch of games began with a doubleheader against UW-Whitewater. They struggled in both games against a tough Whitewater team.
In the first game the Vikes did not hit the ball well. Ellen French drove in one of the two Viking runs with a double and Emily Perish was 1-2 with a run scored. Other than that, the Vikings could not produce much offense.
Unfortunately, Whitewater did not struggle to put together some strong offense. The Vikings gave up 10 runs and lost the first game 10-2.
In the second game, the Vikings struggled behind the plate again. The Vikings were only able to produce three hits. However, one of those hits was a two-run home run from Carli Gurholt to drive in two of the Vikings’ three runs.
Whitewater was able to hit well again in the second game and put up seven runs. The Vikings dropped both games against Whitewater, but they looked to turn it around in Janesville at the Midwest Conference Classic tournament.
They first took on Monmouth and had the same problems at the mound they had against Whitewater. The Vikes gave up 14 runs on 13 hits to Monmouth.
Behind the plate, they were able to get things going a bit better. Katie Simonson went 3-3 with a run and Gurholt hit yet another home run bringing her season total to 10. The Vikings lost their first game of the MWC Classic 14-5.
The Lady Vikes were determined to turn around their play as they faced off against Lake Forest next. The Vikings turned their bats on getting 11 hits. French went 2-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs along with Perish who went 3-4 with an RBI.
Unfortunately, the Vikings could not hold on to beat Lake Forest as the Foresters scored the game winning run in the seventh inning to win 6-5.
The Vikes would next face Grinnell. The Vikings again played well behind the plate and were led by Alex Goodson who had a whopping six RBIs by going two for three with two home runs. The Vikings were able to put up seven runs but again struggled at the mound. Grinnell scored 10 runs in the first two innings and the Vikings could never catch back up.
With an 0-3 record at the MWC Classic, the Vikings looked to turn their luck around against Knox. They were able to take out their frustrations behind the plate against Knox.
The Vikings hit five doubles in the game, with Goodson and Reichel each taking two and one from Gurholt. They also put up 16 runs. Goodson again raked in the RBIs with five and Gurholt had four. Nearly every batter that went to the plate for Lawrence was on base at least once.
The pitching was not perfect, giving up seven earned runs, but it got the job done as the Vikes earned their first win of the MWC Classic beating Knox 16-8.
In their final game, the Vikings looked to pull out another win at the MWCC. They faced off against Illinois College. Alex Goodson hit her third home run of the classic going 2-2, Hillary Cheever was also 2-2 and Amanda Follett was 1-2 with a run and an RBI.
At the mound, the pitching finally found form. Meredith Foshag gave up only one earned run and struck out two batters through 3 and 1/3 innings. Perish took over and did not give up a hit for the rest of the game.
The Vikes are back in action April 25 against Carroll University and again April 26 at the University of Chicago.
A flurry of softball scores
