CLERMONT, Fla. -- One big inning was the difference Monday as the Lawrence University softball team dropped an 11-3 nonconference decision to Wesleyan (Conn.) University. 
    The game was tied 3-3 before the Cardinals broke the game open in the final inning and closed Lawrence out via the run rule.
    Lawrence was limited to five hits as Janessa Gonzalez, Mattigan Haller, Gillian Guerriero, Taylor Hughes and Xiomara Rueda-Marshall all collected hits for the Vikings (1-9).
    Lawrence trailed 2-0 but rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. Jordan Wallin-Swanson and Kourtney Mercer started the rally with one-out walks. Rueda-Marshall later delivered a two-out single to pinch-runner Laney Martens to cut the lead to 2-1. Gonzalez followed with another single to score Mercer and tie the game at 2-2, but Rueda-Marshall was thrown out at home to end the inning.
    Wesleyan pulled ahead with a run in the third, but the Vikings tied the game in the fourth. Guerriero started the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Hughes later delivered a two-out single to score Guerriero and tie the game at 3-3.
    Wesleyan then scored eight runs on five hits in the eighth to take control. Lawrence put a runner on the bottom half of the inning but couldn't extend the game.
    Rueda-Marshall worked into the sixth and took the loss. Brooklin Williams tossed two scoreless innings to earn the victory.