Kostreva leads Vikings to split with Carroll

Jon Mays

The Lawrence University baseball team faced off against Carroll University four times this past weekend, and each team held onto its home field advantage in the series.
The Vikings started the weekend by traveling to Carroll, and both games away from home could have easily gone either way. Both games were decided by one run, and the Vikings had a chance late in both games to either tie or take the lead. However, the Pioneers held on to their leads to win both games in Menasha.
Senior Luke Kostreva had a huge day for the Vikings, going 3-5 with four RBIs in the first game and 4-5 with two RBIs in the nightcap. Kostreva also added a homerun in each game.
The two teams traveled back to Appleton for the second day of the series, and once again the teams were evenly matched.
This time, the Vikings came out ahead. The difference for the Vikings was speed on the bases. Lawrence had 19 steals in the two Sunday games at Don Hawkins Field, including 12 stolen bases in the first game, which set a school record for steals in a single game.
Freshman Zach Owlsey pitched a complete game in the opening game, which Lawrence won 10-6. The second game was much more dramatic, but once again Kostreva came up big.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and a man on base, Kostreva blasted a shot over the center field fence to put the Vikings ahead by a run.
Andy Frelich then came in to pitch the ninth and did so perfectly, picking up three straight outs and locking down the win for the Vikings.
Junior captain Rob Rashid had four hits and five RBIs on the day, and Owlsey added three hits in addition to pitching the complete game in the opener. Everyone, however, was overshadowed by the big first baseman Kostreva, who finished with 11 hits and ten RBIs for the weekend.
The Vikings (3-16, 2-2 MWC) look to keep up their hot hitting this Thursday, when they will travel to MSOE. They will then face Finlandia at home Saturday.