Rough weather and poor field conditions washed out two of the April 14 Viking softball games in this weekend’s Midwest Conference Classic, but the girls made it out with one win out of their three games, in addition to their fall earlier in the week in a doubleheader against St. Norbert.
In the Vikings’ first game against St. Norbert, the girls held the lead 3-1 until they gave up eight runs in the fifth inning, losing 9-3. Their second game had a similar outcome, as junior Cathy Kaye doubled for a RBI in the fifth and junior Shannon Murray homered in the sixth to take a 2-0 lead, only to give up five runs off four hits in the bottom of the sixth to fall to St. Norbert.
The Vikings had a solid game against Grinnell when Murray pitched a no-hitter in a 12-0 victory for their opening game of the MWC Classic. Murray struck out seven and did not walk a batter, allowing only two runners from an error and a hit by a pitch. The no-hitter was Lawrence’s third ever, and Murray’s second.
Murray said, “The team did an awesome job setting the tone right from the beginning and holding it all through the game. We never let up and it was a great feeling to walk away with a win like that.”
Kaye started the Viking momentum with the homer for the first Lawrence at bat, followed by RBIs from a Murray double and a single by sophomore Alissa Geipel. Kaye scored again in the second through some skillful base running, after she singled and advanced off the throw, stole third and scored on an error. Lawrence turned on the heat in the fourth inning with eight more runs to end the game 12-0.
The Vikings could not seem to find that fire in their next two games in the MWC Classic, as they fell 6-2 against Knox and 7-1 against Illinois College. Due to the washout, the games played in the MWC Classic will not count for conference standings (0-2), though they will add to the team’s overall record (6-15).
“We’re still working on fundamentals to put us in a better position for conference, but we still have a chance so this week’s games are big for us,” said Kaye. The women’s team will return to action with three doubleheaders this week, playing Ripon at home April 18, at Marian on April 19 and at home against Beloit on April 21.