APPLETON, Wis. -- A big fourth inning and a solid pitching performance from Andy Frelich led the Lawrence University baseball team to a 7-3 win over Lakeland College in a nonconference game Tuesday at Whiting Field.
Lawrence was leading 5-0 after two innings in the nightcap when the contest was suspended by rain.
Lawrence (4-9) didn't have a hit against Lakeland starter Bill Miller heading into the bottom of the fourth in a scoreless game. Miller then walked Tim Salm and Tommy Schmidt to start the inning. After a popup, T.J. Frett bunted for a base hit to load the bases.
Miller then hit Adam Fritsch to force in the first run of the game. Freshman Robert Rashid's line drive eluded a diving Jeremy Williams in right field and went all the way to the wall for a three-run triple. Doug McEneaney followed with a single to score Rashid and put the Vikings up 5-0. Ben Webster then blasted a two-run homer, his first of the season, and the Vikings led 7-0.
Frelich gave up a run in the fifth and two more in the seventh on Dave Novak's two-run double, but that was all the Muskies (5-11) would get. Frelich went the distance, allowing seven hits, striking out five and walking four.
In the second game, Lawrence jumped on Lakeland starter Tony DeMuth for five runs in the second inning before the steady rain forced the suspension of the contest.
The Vikings loaded the bases on a single and two hit batsman. Rashid and McEneaney then drew back-to-back walks to force in the first two runs. Webster followed with a two-run single, and Salm lined a single up the middle to score another run to put the Vikings up 5-0.
The teams have not decided on a date to complete the second game. Lawrence returns to action on Thursday when it hosts Wisconsin Lutheran College in a 4:00 p.m. doubleheader at Don Hawkins Field.