Davenport, FL – The Williams Ephs (4-5, 0-0 NESCAC) fell to the Lawrence University Vikings (6-8, 0-0 Midwest Conference) by a score of 11-2 on Wednesday morning. Florida.
After a leadoff double from
Ben Swank led to nothing for the Ephs in the top half of the first, Lawrence was able to build an early lead with a two-out rally. Back-to-back walks and a stolen base led to an RBI double from Shane Santaga and an RBI single from CJ Filipek that would score two more. The Vikings led 3-0 after one inning.
Lawrence would score twice more in the second inning after an infield single, error, and a successful double steal gave them two runners in scoring position with no outs. A pop out to shallow left field managed to score the first run, and another infield single drove in the second. The deficit was now 5-0 for the Ephs.
Lawrence would score four more in the fourth. After the first two batters reached on an error and a walk, Taylor Freeman doubled to left field to drive in two runs. After a Williams pitching change, a sacrifice fly and double would end up driving in two more runs. Lawrence led 9-0 through four innings.
James O'Connor provided a spark for Williams in the fifth, showing off his impressive power by crushing a home run to left center field. Lawrence answered with another run in the bottom half on a sacrifice fly from Edan Perez. The score was 10-1 after five innings of play.
The Ephs scored another run in the top of the sixth. After a Lawrence pitching change,
Ryan Nakajima led off with a walk and stole second base.
Hank Jacobus drove a fly ball to centerfield that would be caught but advanced Nakajima to third.
Marcus Burrell II drove in Nakajima with a sharp RBI single to left field. In the home half, Lawrence got a run of their own on a solo homer from Filipek.
The last three innings were scoreless for both sides, as
Jacob Martin finished a solid outing out of the bullpen for Williams and
Issey Gestel relieved him by putting up a zero of his own. Malachi Ross earned the win for Lawrence, pitching five innings of one-run ball. Williams starting pitcher
Max Hart took the loss.
Eph head coach
Bill Barrale focused on the positives coming from the game, pointing out that "Marcus Burrell and
Oliver Rey had some really nice swings" and shifting the focus to the upcoming series with NESCAC East opponent Colby College. Williams will play Colby in a three-game set starting on Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 5pm in Davenport, FL.
