Lawrence University

    CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Lawrence University baseball team dropped its regular season finale 11-9 Sunday against the University of Chicago at J. Kyle Anderson Field.
    Lawrence, which clinched the Midwest Conference title with a doubleheader sweep of the Maroons on Saturday, gave most of their regular starters the day off. 
    Taylor Freeman had a big day at the plate for Lawrence (23-11, 18-6 MWC) as he went 4-for-5 with a double, four runs batted in and a run scored. Luke Miles went 3-for-4, and Mitchell Sandleback was 2-for-5 for the Vikings, who had a 15-10 advantage in hits over Chicago (21-14, 16-7).
     The Maroons built a 3-0 lead through two innings, but Lawrence picked up a single run in the third on Freeman's RBI double and another in the fifth on Alex Tanaka's run-scoring double to cut the lead to one.
    Lawrence took a 4-3 lead in the sixth when the Vikings loaded the bases and Avery Grayton and Freeman both drew walks to drive in runs. Chicago grabbed a 5-4 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning.
    The Vikings then scored five times in the seventh to grab a 9-5 edge. Jake Land picked up a run-scoring single, and Ethan Plantz drew a bases-loaded walk for a 6-5 lead. Freeman then delivered a two-run single, and Sandleback picked up another bases-loaded walk for the four-run advantage.
    Lawrence gave the lead right back when Chicago scored five times on five hits in the bottom of the seventh for a 10-9 edge. The Vikings loaded the bases with one out in the eighth, but the Maroons got a force out at home and another fielder's choice to escape without any damage.
    Chicago tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, and AJ Horkan worked a 1-2-3 ninth to get the save.
    Lawrence opens Midwest Conference Tournament play at home on Friday when the Vikings take on fourth-seeded Illinois College.