APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University softball team posted a 2-3 record at the Midwest Conference Classic on Monday and Tuesday in Janesville, Wis.
Lawrence (9-6, 2-3 MWC) defeated Monmouth 8-0 and beat Knox 10-1 in the format that pits North Division teams against their South Division brethren. The Vikings dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to Grinnell, lost 17-9 to Lake Forest, and lost 3-1 to Illinois College.
In the opening game against Monmouth on Sunday, Lawrence broke the game open late. The Vikings led 1-0 when they scored four times in the fifth inning. Carrie Van Groll and Alex Goodson both belted two-run homers in that frame for the Vikings.
Lawrence ended the game on the eight-run rule in the sixth by scoring three times. Jenna Reichel had a run-scoring single, and Toren Johnson's RBI single scored Reichel with the run that ended the game.
Catherine Marinac went the distance and tossed a one-hitter, allowing only a fifth-inning single to Jackie Hennenfent. She struck out five and walked one.
Lawrence led 1-0 against Grinnell heading to the top of the sixth on Sunday, but Darcy Ward hit a two-run homer to give the Pioneers the lead for good. The Vikings loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Justine Garbarski grounded out to end the game.
Lake Forest pounded out 16 hits in four-plus innings and rolled to the win on Sunday. Lawrence led 3-2 after the first inning, but the Foresters scored six times in the bottom of the second and ended the game on the run rule in the fifth.
The Vikings came back on Monday and started the day with a victory over Knox. Lawrence led 1-0 after the first on Amanda Hauser's run-scoring single. The Vikings added to that lead with another run in the fourth, courtesy of Johnson's RBI double.
Lawrence led 2-1 heading to the sixth and ended the game with eight runs. The big blow in the frame was Goodson's grand slam, the first of her young career and her third round-trippper of the season.
Marinac picked up the win by going the distance, allowing seven hits, striking out five, and walking two.
Illinois College, which went 5-0 over the two days, held on to defeat Lawrence in the final game on Monday. The Lady Blues escaped several jams and led 3-0 heading to the bottom of the seventh. A run-scoring groundout with the bases loaded by Hillary Cheever got the Vikings on the board, but Van Groll flied out to end the game.
Lawrence returns to action Wednesday when it travels to MSOE for a doubleheader. The Vikings will play their home opener on Thursday when they host UW-Stevens Point in a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader.