The LU men’s baseball team completed its season series with Carroll College over the weekend, taking three of four from the Pioneers for a strong start in its quest for the conference tournament. This improved the Vikings’ overall record to 9-7. The series was highlighted by sophomore catcher Doug Coe, who jacked two homeruns in the series, and sophomore hurler Josh Richie, who pitched seven no-hit innings to earn himself Midwest Conference Player of the Week honors. Richie did not allow any earned runs during his nine-and-a-third innings of work in the four game series with Carroll, striking out six and scattering just five singles in a Doug Davis-esque week of efficiency.
The Vikings were three outs away from completing the four game sweep when Pioneer Dan Ryan hit a game-tying pinch-hit three run homerun to tie the score 8-8 in the bottom of the ninth inning of the fourth game. Carroll would win the game in the bottom of the tenth on a two-run single.
Despite the disappointment of the last game, the Vikings looked strong throughout the series, averaging over eleven hits per game. The pitching was especially impressive, as the Vikings staff allowed just two earned runs in the first three games, a statistic that would make even Brewers ace Ben Sheets blush.
This weekend, Lawrence hosts a doubleheader with Marian. Next week the Vikes travel to UW-Whitewater for a two-game series, followed by a four-game weekend series versus conference rival Beloit. On the season, Lawrence is hitting a remarkable .368 as a team which, combined with the continued stellar pitching, should make the Vikings strong contenders for their first birth in the Midwest Conference Tournament under Coach Korey Krueger.
LU baseball 3-4 against Carroll
