St. Norbert Finishes Series Sweep of Lawrence

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, April 29, 2018 | Baseball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

APPLETON - St. Norbert College concluded a Midwest Conference four-game series sweep of Lawrence University with wins of 6-4 and 9-5 at Whiting Field.

The Green Knights (20-10, 9-3 MWC) need just one win in their series next weekend against Ripon College to earn a berth in the Midwest Conference Tournament as well as gain hosting privileges.

St. Norbert rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the opener, scoring twice in the seventh inning to tie and pushed ahead with a pair of runs in the ninth inning. Jack Maastricht opened the seventh inning being hit by a pitch and came around to score when Lucas Reynolds' bunt was thrown away. Hunter Larson's double brought in Reynolds to tie the game. In the ninth inning, Reynolds was hit by a pitch and was sacrificed to second. Following a groundout, Griffin Jack was credited with an infield single to bring Reynolds home. Jack stole second and was singled home by Sean Grant for a two-run lead.

The Green Knights scored a run in the first inning before Lawrence scored twice in the bottom of the first inning. Jason Malkowski's sacrifice fly in the third inning tied the game 2-2 after scoring Reynolds, who led off the inning with a triple. Lawrence took the lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Larson, Jack and Tyler Banovich all had two hits apiece. Reynolds was 1-for-2 and scored four runs. Bryce Braspennickx earned the win with 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief, while Nick Klavekoske worked a scoreless ninth inning for the save.

In the nightcap, Grant had a sacrifice fly in the first inning but Lawrence answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. St. Norbert promptly countered with four runs in the top of the second inning, with Jason Malkowski's two-run single the big blow.

Reynolds had a run-scoring single in the fifth inning to put St. Norbert ahead 6-3, while Banovich poked a two-run double in the sixth inning for an 8-3 edge. St. Norbert scored an unearned run in the seventh inning for its final run. Lawrence scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to account for the final score.

Malkowski was 3-for-5, while Robbie Dombrowski was 2-for-3 and Banovich 2-for-5.

Klavekoske earned the win, allowing three runs on eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings of work. Braspennickx came on for the final out of the game to record the save.