Lawrence is currently tied for second with St. Norbert in the Northern Division of the Midwest Conference.
With another rainout in between, the Lawrence Viking baseball team split a pair of doubleheaders this past week. Last Saturday the Vikings split with Carroll, and last Tuesday the Vikings and Beloit split a pair of games. The Vikings are currently tied with St. Norbert for second place in the Northern Division of the MWC, with the top two teams advancing to the Conference tournament May 9-10.In the Vikings first game against Carroll, the Vikings took the lead with a three run third inning and never looked back. Anthony Kouba, who was named the MWC performer of the week for his performance in the doubleheader against Carroll, hit a bases clearing double to score three and the Vikings led 4-2. They would go on to win 6-2. Aaron Sorenson pitched all seven innings for the Vikings striking out three in running his record to 3-1. Kouba finished the game 2-2 with three RBI and two doubles and runs scored.
In the second game the two teams would go extra innings. The Vikings would eventually lose the game 8-6 in twelve innings, but not after a great performance from Kouba, and first baseman Chris McGinley. Kouba would go 3-5, and McGinley would go 3-6 with two home runs, and end up with four RBI. Andrew Wong picked up the loss for the Vikings after coming into the game in the ninth inning. B.J Chase started for the Vikings and gave up six runs in eight and two thirds innings. Chris Stevo also had a good game for LU going 4-5 at the plate.
Tuesday against Beloit, the Vikings were trying to pick up ground in the MWC Northern Division race. The Buccaneers wouldn’t budge in the first game however. Beloit scored four runs in the first three innings, including three in the third, which was enough as they went on to defeat the Vikings 10-7. Justin Anthony gave up seven runs in five and two thirds innings for the Vikings dropping his season record to 0-3. Kouba led the Vikings offensively again. He went 2-4 with two runs scored. Jeremy Tollefson went 2-3 as well for LU.
In the second game, the Vikings came out early, and made sure they would be on top of this one. The Vikings scored four runs in the first two innings and would coast to a 5-2 victory. Chase pitched a complete nine innings, striking out ten, and giving up two runs, both unearned. The Vikings had a big first inning, scoring three runs. The Vikings took advantage of two Beloit errors that cost them two runs in the inning. Wong also had a lead off home run in the fourth inning for LU.
The Vikings will continue the MWC season this weekend as they play two doubleheaders against St. Norbert. The Vikings play at 1:00 p.m. in DePere on Saturday and are back home at Whiting Field at 1:00 p.m. Sunday. Next Thursday, the Vikings will play Ripon at Fox Cities Stadium at 1:00 p.m.