Eric Lawrence is entering his sixth season total (third season in his second stint) with the Davenport baseball program as pitching coach.
Lawrence helped groom First Team All-GLIAC performer Carson Fischer in 2024. Fischer then transferred to the University of Miami (Fla.) to conclude his collegiate career. The Panthers had a staff ERA of 6.67 and struck out 362 batters in 425.1 innings.
The pitching staff in 2023 had the fourth lowest ERA in the GLIACÂ at 5.23. The Panthers had Logan Bursick-Harrington sign with the Texas Rangers at the end of the season. Tyler McKinstry was named GLIAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year becoming the first Panther to do that. Spencer Vainavicz was also named First Team All-GLIAC out of the bullpen, while Carson Fischer and Isaac Van Dyke were named Second Team All-GLIAC.
The pitching staff during the 2022 season ranked fifth in the GLIAC with a 6.34 ERA and were fourth in walks allowed per nine innings (5.23). The team's WHIP was also fourth in the conference at 1.73. Derrick Edington was named First Team All-GLIAC as the ace of the staff. Spencer Vainavicz was also selected Second Team All-GLIAC.
During the 2021 season, Davenport ranked third in the GLIAC in WHIP (1.55), fourth in ERA (5.43) and second in strikeouts per nine innings (8.0). James Kohl and Cal Djuraskovic was named First Team All-GLIAC.
While the baseball program reached new heights in 2015, including a second straight Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament championship and a first appearance in the NAIA World Series, Lawrence's pitching staff had the fourth best ERA (2.76) in the nation. They also held opponents to a .247 batting average and had limited them to scoring only 153 earned runs.
In 2014, the Panthers maintained a 2.75 ERA with 312 strikeouts and 157 walks. They also held opponents to a .233 batting average. The year also saw then-sophomore Corey Murphy win the WHAC Pitcher of the Year award.
A graduate of Central Michigan University, Lawrence was also a standout at CMU as well as Grand Rapids Community College.
As a Chippewa, Lawrence was a two-year varsity letterwinner and was named the MAC Player of the Week on two different occasions. As a Raider at GRCC, Lawrence was an All-American and helped the team to the NJCAA national championship in 2005.
Lawrence served as a volunteer assistant pitching coach for Central Michigan in 2008-09 and helped out GRCC in the summer of 2010.
Lawrence received his master's degree from Davenport in 2016 in strategic management.
