April 9, 2005

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.--Seeking to upend unbeaten Northern Kentucky, the nation's No. 2-ranked team, the Lewis University softball team lost a nine-inning thriller in game 1 and succumbed in game 2 for a doubleheader sweep.

In game 1, the Flyers (16-13, 4-2 Great Lakes Valley Conference) battled NKU All-American Krystal Lewallen to a 2-1 decision. Lewallen, the nation's ERA leader in 2004, had not allowed an earned run in 89 innings entering the game and extended the streak to 97 following the game.

Lewis' run in the opener came in the fifth inning with the Flyers trailing 1-0. Sophomore Christina Willis began the inning with a lead off single and was followed by a single from junior Robin Martz.

Beth Shelus then advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt placing runners on second and third with one out. Two batters later, Amy Yusko popped a ball to shortstop that was misplayed and allowed the tying run to score.

The game remained tied into the ninth when NKU's Ricki Rothbauer ended the marathon with a game-winning RBI double.

Lewis' Kristen Porzel started and worked into the sixth inning. She pitched five innings and scattered six hits while allowing one earned run.

Shannon Roney (4-5) took the loss in relief. She went 3 2/3 innings giving up five hits and an earned run.

Lewallen improved to 16-0 after holding the Flyers to four hits and an unearned run while striking out nine. Lewis ended her streak of eight straight shutouts.

Martz was the only Lewis player with two hits as the junior outfielder extended her hitting streak to 19 games with a 2 for 3 performance.

Game 2 saw the Norse bats come to life and NKU (30-0, 6-0 GLVC) downed Lewis 10-0 in five innings. The Norse scored 10 earned runs on 11 hits, including two doubles and a triple.

Freshman pitchers Kasey DeLair and Ashley LeGrand were both roughed up in a pair of long innings.

DeLair (3-2) started and cruised through her first two innings before running into trouble in the third. A lead off walk and four straight hits led to four NKU runs in the third and chased DeLair.

LeGrand finished the third inning and pitched the fourth. She found trouble in the fourth inning giving up six runs on six hits, including both doubles and the triple.

The Flyers mustered just two hits in the second game and Martz' hitting streak came to a close. Martz batted .554 (36-65) with 26 runs, two doubles, two triples, a home run and 15 RBI during her 19-game tear. . Lewis returns to GLVC action Sunday afternoon when it plays Kentucky Wesleyan in a doubleheader at noon.