APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University softball team won a tight opening game 4-2 and then pummeled Finlandia University 11-3 in the nightcap of a nonconference doubleheader sweep Saturday at Whiting Field.
Lawrence (7-12) got a key home run from Alex Goodson in the opener and a great pitching performance from Catherine Marinac. Marinac allowed only four hits while striking out a team season high 10.
The Vikings led 1-0 after Amanda Hauser delivered a run-scoring double to score Carrie Van Groll in the bottom of the fourth.
An error got Lawrence's rally going in the bottom of the sixth and allowed Meredith Foshag to reach. After a sacrifice bunt, Megan Butterbrodt singled to score Foshag and put Lawrence up 2-0. Goodson then followed with a two-run homer to give the Vikings some breathing room and a 4-0 lead. It was the first homer of the season for Goodson, who hit seven last season.
The Vikings would need that extra cushion, as Finlandia (10-10) rallied for two runs in the seventh. Brenda Peterson delivered a run-scoring single, and Nicole Schumacher's groundout scored another run. The Lions had the tying run on base, but Marinac struck out Jodi Riutta to end the game.
In the nightcap, Finlandia led 1-0 after scoring in the top of the second, but the Vikings scored the next seven runs.
Goodson delivered a one-out single in the bottom of the third to score Foshag and tie the game at 1-1. An error and a wild pitch put runners at second and third with two outs, and Hillary Cheever then singled to score Goodson and Hauser and put Lawrence up 3-1. Cheever went 4-for-4 with four runs batted in the second game.
Lawrence started to pull away in the fourth when Van Groll smacked a lead-off homer, her first of the season, to give Lawrence a 4-1 lead. Van Groll finished 3-for-4 in the nightcap. After Foshag walked, Hauser's fly ball was dropped by Riutta and Foshag scored. Hauser then scored when Carli Gurholt's ground ball was thrown away by shortstop Nicole Schumacher. Cheever followed with a single to score Gurholt and Lawrence led 7-1.
Finlandia got two runs back in the top of the fifth and both were unearned because of two Lawrence errors. Brenda Peterson delivered a run-scoring double, and Riutta singled to score another run.
Lawrence then ended the game on the eight-run rule with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Van Groll started the rally with a single, and Foshag followed with a single. Butterbrodt singled to score Van Groll and Lawrence led 8-3. After Goodson walked to load the bases, the Lions got a force out at home. Gurholt then singled up the middle to score Goodsona and Butterbrodt, and Lawrence led 10-3. Cheever then doubled to score Hauser and end the game.
Foshag went the distance, allowing six hits, to improve to 3-2 on the season.
Lawrence returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Ripon College in a Midwest Conference doubleheader.