March 19, 2005

Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill.--Leading 3-1 going into the seventh inning, the Lewis University softball team surrendered five runs including a grand slam to Ferris State and lost 6-3 to the Bulldogs at the Lewis Invitational.

Ferris State (5-7) had a pair of base runners reach after back-to-back singles in the top of the seventh. A sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with two outs and Ferris State leadoff hitter Melissa Worsley at the plate.

Worsley, who was 2 for 2 with a walk in her three previous at-bats, was intentionally walked to load the bases. The unconventional move of putting the go-ahead run on base was predicated on the fact that Navreet Gill, Ferris State's next hitter, hadn't hit the ball out of the infield in three at-bats.

Lewis pitcher Kristen Porzel proceeded to walk Gill on five pitches bringing home a run. Trailing 3-2, the Bulldogs' big blow came from Emily McClean who launched a deep home run over the left centerfield wall for a grand slam and a 6-3 lead.

"If I had it to do over again, I'd make the same move," said Lewis head coach George DiMatteo. "Their lead off hitter had hit the ball hard in her two hits and I thought we could get the No. 2 hitter. Instead we walked Gill and made a mistake to the next hitter."

Porzel (2-4) took the complete-game loss. She scattered seven hits and struck out three, but walked four and allowed six earned runs.

Offensively, Shannon Roney had two hits to pace the Flyers, while Christina Willis, Amy Yusko and Robin Martz each drove in a run.

Lewis' second game of the tournament against Saginaw Valley State was suspended due to darkness. The Flyers led 6-3 in the top of the seventh inning when the game was halted. The game will be resumed Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. Saginaw Valley's Nicole Shick is at the plate with no outs and a 3-0 count when the game resumes.