April 24, 2005

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University pitchers Shannon Roney and Kristen Porzel combined to throw a pair of shutouts in a doubleheader sweep of conference foe Bellarmine.

Roney (9-6) went the distance in the opener striking out five and walking none. She limited the Knights to four hits and did not allow a runner to reach third base. Roney's gem delivered a 1-0 victory for the Flyers.

In game 2, Lewis claimed a 4-0 win on the back of Porzel's four-hit shutout--her first shutout of the season. The senior righty struck out three and carried a perfect game into the fourth inning.

Porzel (4-6) retired the game's first 10 batters before surrendering a single to Brittany Umphress. She then retired the next 10 in a row before Bellarmine (18-28, 3-13 Great Lakes Valley Conference) strung together three consecutive singles in the top of the seventh inning. With the bases loaded, Porzel was able to induce a game-ending fielder's choice from Holly Dixon.

"Our pitchers pitched well and were very efficient," said Lewis head coach George DiMatteo. "They threw strikes, their control was excellent and didn't walk anyone. Shannon was dominating and Kristen worked very fast."

Sacrifice flies were the blue-light special on the day as all five Lewis runs scored on fly outs.

Robin Martz led off game 1 with a bloop single to center field. She promptly stole second base and advanced to third on a single by Beth Shelus. Following an Amy Yusko walk to load the bases, Mallory Paine lifted a fly ball to left field that was deep enough to allow Martz to race home with what turned out to be the game's only run.

Bellarmine's Claire Horstman pitched brilliantly in the loss, allowing just two hits and striking out nine.

Lewis (25-16, 11-5 GLVC) scored a single run in each of the first four innings of game 2.

Martz led off game 2 with a single to right field and once again stole second base. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Shelus and scored on a sacrifice fly by Yusko.

Roney kick-started the offense in the second inning with a line-drive double over the center fielder's head. Kalynn Russell moved her to third with a single through the left side before Christina Willis brought her home with a fly out to left field.

In the third inning, Yusko registered her second sacrifice fly of the day when she and Martz teamed up to give Lewis a 3-0 lead.

Roney tallied the Flyers' final run in the fourth inning. Martz hit a shallow fly ball to right field that Roney was not going to score on. Instead, Roney bluffed an attempt to score, which led to Bellarmine's Stephanie Lush firing a wild throw to the plate. Lush's errant toss skipped past the catcher and allowed Roney to scoot home with Lewis' fourth run.

"It was great that we got back in the win column and won two on our home field," said DiMatteo. "We didn't hit really well, but we got enough hits to win. We're now alone in third place in the conference and that's something that we want to hold onto heading into the GLVC Tournament."