KENOSHA, Wis. -- The Lawrence University baseball team dropped a 6-4 nonconference decision to Carthage College on Thursday at Augie Schmidt Field.
    Lawrence (14-15) took an early 2-0 lead, but the Firebirds scored the game's next six runs. Carthage (24-8) then held off a late Lawrence rally to preserve the win.
    Taylor Freeman continued his hot hitting for Lawrence as he went 2-for-5 and drove in two runs, and CJ Filipek blasted a two-run homer for the Vikings.
    Filipek got the scoring started when he homered in the first following a Sage Beebe-Jenny walk to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead.
    Carthage tied it with two runs in the third, added two runs in the fourth and then single runs in the fifth and sixth.
    Lawrence battled back in the top of the seventh when Nathan Depew and Tate Hartlaub delivered back-to-back one-out singles. After a bunt moved the runners over, Freeman singled to score both runners and trim the lead to 6-4. The Firebirds got the final out of the frame to avoid further damage.
    The Vikings had two runners in scoring position with one out in the eighth, but Carthage recorded a pair of strikeouts to end the inning. Lawrence was unable mount a rally in the ninth.
    Julius Christensen worked the first three innings and took the loss for the Vikings. 
    Lawrence returns to Midwest Conference play on Saturday when the Vikings open a three-game series at Illinois College.