FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Lawrence University softball team got another shutout performance and swept a doubleheader from Worcester State on Thursday at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.
The Vikings (6-2), winners of four straight, beat Worcester State (1-7) 12-4 in the opener and downed the Lancers 8-0 in the nightcap.
Freshman Alex Goodson powered the Lawrence offense by going 5-for-6 with two doubles and five runs batted in on the day.
In the first game, Catherine Marinac tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up her fourth victory of the season. She struck out eight and walked one while allowing three hits.
The Vikings led 3-0 heading into the top of the fourth when Lucy Bouressa started a two-out rally with a single and Megan Butterbrodt followed with a run-scoring double. Jenna Reichel singled to score another run. A walk and a pair of errors allowed another run to score before Amanda Hauser's run-scoring single capped the rally and gave Lawrence an 8-0 lead.
Tammi Weiss came on in relief of Marinac to start the fifth but ran into trouble. After the Lancers rallied for four runs, Marinac came back and retired the next two hitters to end the threat.
Lawrence then put the game away in the top of the sixth. Reichel, who went 4-for-5 in the opener, and Carrie Van Groll led off with singles. After an error allowed Toren Johnson to reach, Goodson belted a two-run single. Molly Bouressa grounded out to score another run, and Butterbrodt capped the rally with a run-scoring single.
The Vikings jumped on Worcester State in the first inning of the nightcap by scoring five times in the opening frame. The Vikings had four hits in the inning, paced by run-scoring singles from Goodson and Molly Bouressa, and took advantage of an error, wild pitch and passed ball.
Lawrence ended the game with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Vikings loaded the bases on singles by Johnson and Goodson and a walk to Hauser. After Hillary Cheever's two-run single made it 7-0, Butterbrodt followed with a sacrifice fly for the winning margin.
Freshman pitcher Meredith Foshag picked up her second consecutive shutout. She limited the Lancers to three hits in five innings, struck out four and walked two. She also shut out Worcester State on Tuesday.
Lawrence wraps up its spring break trip when it takes on Union (N.Y.) and Bethel (Minn.) on Friday.
Lawrence 12, Worcester State 4
Lawrence 102 504 12 13 1
Worcester State 000 040 4 5 4
WP: Catherine Marinac (5 1/3 IP, 8 K, 1 BB). LP: Jesslyn Hyland (6 IP, 3 K, 4 BB).
Leading hitters: Jenna Reichel (L) 4-5, RBI; Toren Johnson (L) 2-4, RBI; Alex Goodson (L) 3-4, 2B, 4 RBI;
Megan Butterbrodt (L) 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI.
Lawrence 8, Worcester 0
Worcester State 000 00 0 3 1
Lawrence 500 03 8 9 0
WP: Meredith Foshag (5 IP, 4 K, 2 BB). LP: Danielle Caron (4 IP, 2 K, 1 BB).
Leading hitters: Carrie Van Groll (L) 2-3; Alex Goodson (L) 2-2, RBI;
Molly Bouressa (L) 1-2, RBI; Hillary Cheever (L) 1-1, 2 RBI.