Lawrence Vikings throw a pair of no-hitters

(LAWRENCE ATHLETICS) WATERTOWN, Wis. — The Lawrence University softball team made school history on Thursday by throwing a pair of no-hitters in a nonconference doubleheader sweep of Marantha Baptist University at Brandt-Quirk Park.
In the opener, two Lawrence pitchers combined for a perfect game in Lawrence’s 18-0 victory. The Vikings allowed only one baserunner in the second game with two different pitchers combining on the no-hitter in another 18-0 victory. Both games ended in five innings due to the run rule.
Lawrence has never thrown no-hitters in consecutive games, and marks the first no-hitter for the Vikings since a combined no-hitter in an 11-0 victory over Knox College on April 12, 2013. Lawrence had thrown a total of four no-hitters before the two against Maranatha.
In the first game, Avery Chilson and Kylan Arndt combined on the perfect game. Chilson threw the opening two innings, struck out five and didn’t walk a batter. Arndt also recorded five strikeouts without a walk over the final three innings.
The Vikings (13-15) pounded out 16 hits in the opener. Jordan Wallin-Swanson went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs batted in for Lawrence. Kourtney Mercer also went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored, and Gillian Guerriero and Anna Whiteside were both 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Mattigan Haller and Zoe Doherty drove in three runs apiece for the Vikings.
Lawrence led 2-0 when the Vikings exploded for 10 runs in the second inning. Doherty had a two-run double in the second, and Haller picked up a two-run single in the frame. The Vikings then added two runs in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings to close out the contest.
Georgia Sedlack and Mercer combined on the no-hitter in the nightcap. Sedlack threw the first three innings and struck out all nine batters she faced without a walk. Mercer finished the no-hitter with a pair of scoreless innings, striking out two and walking one.
Lawrence built a 6-0 lead through four innings and then blew up for 12 runs in the fifth inning. Doherty had a two-run triple in the fifth, and Chilson picked up a two-run single in the inning.
Doherty went 2-for-4 with a triple, a homer, five RBIs and two runs scored. Janna Bode went 3-for-5 for the Vikings with three runs scored and one driven in. Wallin-Swanson, Taylor Hughes and Chilson had two hits apiece, and Wallin-Swanson and Chilson also drove in a pair of runs.
Lawrence returns to Midwest Conference play on Saturday when the Vikings host Grinnell College in a doubleheader.