Charging St. Norbert Wins 11th Straight

From Sports Information Director, April 29, 2012 | Baseball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

APPLETON - St. Norbert College extended its winning streak to 11 games with wins of 14-10 and 10-8 over Lawrence University at Whiting Field.

The Green Knights (19-10, 10-2 MWC) are on their best winning streak since a 14-game string in 2005. St. Norbert has won 19 consecutive games in the Lawrence series, and holds a two-game lead in the MWC North with four games left.

St. Norbert had to rally in both games, scoring six times in the eighth inning of the opener to erase an 8-6 deficit and seven times in the sixth inning of the nightcap to answer a 6-2 deficit.

The Green Knights scored four runs in the first inning of the opener before the Vikings scored five times in the second and once in the third to take a 6-4 lead. St. Norbert tied the game with two runs in the fourth inning on a two-run double by Travis Mason. The Vikings scored twice in the fifth to pull ahead 8-6.

Neither team scored again until the Green Knights posted six runs in the eighth inning on six hits. Nick Pierre's RBI single scored a run, while Matt Hannon's RBI double tied the game at 8-8. Jordan Powers scored on a balk for a 9-8 lead, and Mason then belted a two-run home run to make it 11-8. Garrick Fisher then followed with a solo blast for a 12-8 edge.

Hannon had an RBI double and Mason a sacrifice fly for two insurance runs in the ninth.

Mason finished 3-for-5 with six RBIs, while Hannon was 3-for-6 with two RBIs. Chad Ljunggren added a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Nathan Schadrie worked seven innings of relief to get the win, scattering 10 hits with four runs, two walks and five strikeouts.

Lawrence led 6-2 after three innings before the Green Knights scored seven runs on seven hits in the sixth inning to take a 9-6 lead. Jose Godinez's socked a three-run home run to pull within 6-5, and Mason later stroked a two-run single for a 7-6 lead. Chris Hillesheim coaxed a bases-loaded walk and Ljunggren drove in a run on a fielding error to close out the scoring.

Hannon and Powers both went 3-for-5, while Godinez was 2-for-4 wiht three RBIs and Alex Larsen was 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

Nick Dagneau picked up his first collegiate win with three innings of relief, allowing three hits, one run, two walks and two strikeouts.