UTICA, Mich. – Game one against Cornerstone, Lawrence Tech built an early cushion and rode a complete-game effort from Ethan Hochendoner to a 7-5 win. The Blue Devils scored twice in the first inning, added three more in the second and pushed across two in the fourth, then held on as Cornerstone threatened late.

The decisive early swing came from Andrew Merz, who doubled to right field in the first inning to drive in two runs and give Lawrence Tech a 2-0 lead. Cornerstone answered in the top of the second with a triple that brought home, tying the game at 2. Lawrence Tech responded immediately in the bottom half with a three-run inning. Brady Lee and Brady Rogers each produced RBI ground outs, and Justin Baird followed with a run-scoring double to put the Blue Devils back in front, 5-2.

Cornerstone kept pressure on in the third. With an RBI single, and another run scored on a Lawrence Tech error to trim the margin to 5-4. The Blue Devils regained breathing room in the fourth, manufacturing two more runs. Rogers singled early in the inning and later scored during a sequence that included a steal of home. Ty Schornak also came around to score after a balk for a 7-4 advantage.

That support was enough for Hochendoner, who worked all seven innings to earn the win. The Lawrence Tech starter allowed eight hits and five runs, only three of them earned, while striking out 12 and walking one on 94 pitches. Cornerstone scratched out one final run in the seventh on an RBI single, but Hochendoner finished the job before the rally could grow.

Baird paced the Blue Devils offensively with two hits, a double and two runs scored. Merz finished with two RBI and a walk, while Lawrence Tech made the most of limited contact by scoring seven runs on six hits. The Blue Devils also drew eight walks and stole seven bases, helping offset three errors in the field. Cornerstone totaled eight hits but the visitors left little margin after committing four errors.

Lawrence Tech did its damage early and leaned on its starter the rest of the way. The Blue Devils had the lead by the end of the first inning, answered each Cornerstone push in the middle innings and closed out the 7-5 result behind Hochendoner's 12-strikeout complete game.

In game two of the doubleheader, Lawrence Tech broke open with a 10-run sixth inning and backed it with a dominant start from Kenny Wright in a 12-0 win over Cornerstone in a seven-inning contest.

The Blue Devils and Cornerstone played through three scoreless innings before Lawrence Tech struck first in the fourth. Luke Weinberger delivered the decisive early swing, lining a two-run single to right that brought home Justin Baird and Ty Schornak for a 2-0 lead.

Kenny Wright turned in a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits and one walk over seven innings while striking out six. He threw 74 pitches, 54 for strikes, and kept Cornerstone from building any momentum. Cornerstone put only five runners on base and never scored after being limited to two hits across 24 at-bats.

Lawrence Tech ended the game with an eruption in the sixth. Ty Schornak opened the inning with a solo home run to left, then later added a two-run double as the rally snowballed. Weinberger drove in another run with a single earlier in the frame, and the Blue Devils scored on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly. Andrew Merz added a two-out RBI double, and Weinberger capped the inning with another run-scoring single that plated two more as Lawrence Tech pushed the margin to 12-0.

Weinberger finished 3 for 3 with five RBI and a run scored, leading an 11-hit attack. Schornak also collected three hits, drove in three runs, scored three times, and supplied Lawrence Tech's lone home run. The Blue Devils added five walks and three hit batters, taking advantage of three Cornerstone errors while leaving only five runners on base. After Wright closed out the top of the seventh, the Blue Devils had a shutout win built on efficient pitching, timely hitting, and one overwhelming inning.

They are set to compete against Rochester Christian University tomorrow, April 18 at home at UWM Field in celebration of Senior Day!