April 28, 2005

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill.--The Lewis University softball team earned a non-conference split with Saint Xavier Tuesday afternoon.

The Flyers (26-17) dropped the opener 8-4, but won the nightcap 8-0 in six innings.

Saint Xavier's Jessica Wilson stymied Lewis in game 1 with a complete-game five-hit victory. Wilson struck out three and retired the first nine batters in order before surrendering a run in the bottom of the fourth.

Kristy Vanek helped Lewis crack the scoreboard in game 1 with an RBI double down the left field line that brought the score to 6-1.

The Flyers trimmed the lead to 6-4 with three runs in the fifth. Beth Shelus capped the rally with a two-out RBI single.

SXU (37-14), who is ranked No. 16 in the nation in NAIA, padded their lead with two runs in the top of the sixth to stymie the Lewis comeback. The Cougars' big blow in the game was a four-run fourth inning that was highlighted by a three-run home run by Megan Stluka.

Ashley LeGrand (7-2) shouldered the loss. She pitched six innings allowing eight runs, six earned, on 11 hits and five walks, while striking out three.

Game 2 saw Lewis bats come to life as they pounded out 17 hits--the team's second most hits in a game this season.

Robin Martz, Shannon Roney and Vanek each had three hits, while Amy Yusko, Kalynn Russell and Christina Willis added two hits apiece. Roney launched a solo home run, her second home run of the year, in the second inning. In addition, both of Yusko's hits were doubles.

Roney (10-6), a freshman who has emerged as Lewis' ace, picked up the win in the circle. She scattered six hits and struck out four to register her third complete-game shutout of the season.

Lewis heads into its final weekend of the regular season with road doubleheaders against Southern Illinois Edwardsville (37-9) and Southern Indiana (25-16). The Flyers will play No. 14 SIUE Saturday, April 30 at noon and travel to USI on Sunday, May 1 for a noon twinbill.