AUBURNDALE, Fla. - In game one Lawrence Tech used a relentless offensive attack and a shutdown pitching effort to roll past Dordt (Iowa) 9–2 in a neutral-site match up in Auburndale, Fla.
The Blue Devils built an early lead with two runs in the first inning and never trailed, then effectively put the game out of reach with a three-run fifth highlighted by a two-run double from Brady Lee. Lawrence Tech finished with 10 hits, seven walks and seven stolen bases while holding Dordt to just three hits and a pair of runs, one of them unearned.
Lawrence Tech struck quickly in the opening frame, pushing across two runs and setting the tone for the day. Luke Weinberger came around to score on a ground-into-double-play off the bat of Justin Baird, giving the Blue Devils a 2–0 cushion. Dordt answered in the top of the second when Logan Harris scored on a sacrifice fly by Jarett Herz, but the Blue Devils responded in the bottom of the third with a two-run inning capped by another RBI ground out from Baird to move the margin to 4–1.
Dordt's final run came in the fourth, when Harris scored an unearned run on an error at third base to cut the deficit to 4–2. From there, Lawrence Tech's pitching tightened and did not allow another run, stranding eight Dordt base runners on the day. Blue Devils pitching collectively limited Dordt to three hits and eight strikeouts over seven innings, keeping traffic largely under control despite issuing eight walks.
The decisive blow came in the bottom of the fifth. With the Blue Devils already in front by two, Lee drilled a two-run double to extend the lead and finish off a three-RBI day. Evan McIntyre followed with an RBI single later in the inning to push the advantage to 7–2. Lawrence Tech added two more in the sixth, with a run scoring on a Baird fielder's choice and Gavin Martinkowski later crossing the plate to make it 9–2 and close the scoring.
Lee led the offensive effort, with three RBI, a double, a triple and a run scored. Brady Rogers provided a spark at the top of the lineup, reaching base four times with two hits, two walks, two runs scored and two stolen bases, helping the Blue Devils apply pressure throughout the game. Martinkowski was a constant presence on the base paths as well, scoring three runs while collecting a hit, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base.
Lawrence Tech's combination of patient at-bats, aggressive base running and steady pitching was too much, as the Blue Devils converted early opportunities and then used the middle innings to pull away in the Florida match up.
In game two against Dordt, Lawrence Tech's offense staged a late comeback push, but a big early hole proved too much to escape in a 12-10 loss to Dordt (Iowa).
The neutral-site match up turned into a high-scoring affair almost immediately. After Lawrence Tech grabbed a brief 3-2 lead with a three-run second inning, Dordt answered with three runs of its own in the bottom half to retake control. The Defenders then stacked on two more runs in the third and four in the fourth to build an 11-6 cushion, forcing the Blue Devils to play from behind most of the night despite a steady offensive output.
Lawrence Tech's biggest response came in the middle innings. Trailing 7-3 in the fourth, the Blue Devils pushed across three runs in the top half to pull within 7-6 before Dordt's four-run bottom half swung the momentum back. In the fifth, Lawrence Tech added another run to stay within striking distance at 12-7, setting the stage for a final surge in the sixth.
Andrew Merz provided one of the Blue Devils' biggest swings of the day, launching a solo home run in the top of the sixth as part of a three-run inning that trimmed the deficit to 12-10. Merz finished with two hits, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Lawrence Tech attack. Luke Weinberger also delivered in run-producing spots, driving in two runs and adding a sacrifice fly as Lawrence Tech totaled 10 runs on eight hits while leaving eight runners on base.
Offensively, Lawrence Tech consistently applied pressure, scoring in five of seven innings and putting together multi-run frames in the second, fourth and sixth. However, the early walks and free bases issued by Blue Devils pitching made the margin for error thin. Dordt produced 12 runs on seven hits but drew 12 walks, turning limited contact into extended innings that allowed the Defenders to build and protect their lead.
On the mound, Lawrence Tech pitchers struck out six over six innings and limited Dordt to seven hits, but the combination of 12 walks and one defensive miscue opened the door for multiple crooked numbers. In contrast, Dordt's staff navigated 10 Lawrence Tech runs by recording 11 strikeouts and scattering eight hits and eight walks, with Jacob Camp working the final inning for the Defenders to record the save.
The loss capped a back-and-forth contest in warm, clear conditions in central Florida, but it also underscored the Blue Devils' ability to generate offense and battle back late. Lawrence Tech will look to build on the production from Merz, Weinberger and the rest of the lineup as the Florida swing continues.
