May 7, 2005
Box Score
EAST PEORIA, Ill.--The Lewis University softball team found itself in the first extra inning game of the 2005 Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament and had its season ended by Southern Indiana in an elimination game.
A hard-fought, cleanly played game saw Lewis (29-22) fall to USI (30-19) 3-1 in nine innings.
Junior Kalynn Russell broke a scoreless tie with her first home run of the season, a solo shot, in the bottom of the fifth inning.
USI answered with a two-out rally in the top of the sixth. Kristin Eickholt reached on a hit-by-pitch to get things started. After a passed ball allowed her to reach second base, Flyer pitcher Shannon Roney intentionally walked Kristy Groves placing runners on first and second. Lindsay McNaughton followed with a single to left center that loaded the bases. No. 8 hitter Angie Davis then tied the game with a single through the left side. Roney then worked out of the jam by inducing a ground out to end the inning.
The teams played scoreless into the ninth when USI's Davis inflicted season-ending damage to the Flyers. After McNaughton led off with a double to right center, Davis lifted a two-run home run to right field giving USI a 3-1 lead.
Lewis had a chance to tie in the bottom of ninth as the Flyers loaded the bases with two outs, but senior Amy Roberts popped up to the pitcher to end to game.
McNaughton (13-7) went the distance in the circle for USI. She had four strikeouts and allowed four walks and six hits.
Roney (13-8) pitched into the ninth and took the loss. She surrendered nine hits, three earned runs and walked one in eight innings. Kristen Porzel recorded the final three outs in the top of the ninth.
Junior Robin Martz blooped an infield single in the first inning to bring her season total to 82 hits. The mark tied the single-season school record that she established last season.
Lewis' 29 wins marked the 11th straight season the team has won at least that many games. The team placed fourth in the GLVC regular season and in the conference tournament.
"We went as far as we possibly could," said Lewis head coach George DiMatteo. "Injuries and inexperience played a big role in our season, but what came out of this year was a lot of promise for the future. We had a lot of young players get chances to play and we have a lot of high points to build on.
"We didn't meet the goals we set early in the year. This season turned into a retooling year for us and we have a lot of hopeful signs that we will continue to get better."
The Flyers graduate four seniors from this season's squad, but only one--Porzel--was a regular this year. All told, Lewis will return nine starting position players--only three of which will be seniors next season.
