March 25, 2006

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - An eight-run fourth inning lifted the Lewis Flyers (15-3, 5-1 GLVC) to a 9-5 win over Kentucky Wesleyan (9-16, 2-4 GLVC) Saturday afternoon in the first game of a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader.

The Flyers fell in the second game, 5-4.

Amy Yusko (Streator, Ill./Streator)'s RBI single in the first inning put Lewis up 1-0 in the opener, but Kentucky Wesleyan tagged Flyers' starting pitcher Shannon Roney for five runs in the second inning.

After Carla Mussillo opened the Flyers half of the fourth inning with a solo home run to left field, the Flyers loaded the bases. Christina Willis reached on a bunt single and made it to second ahead of the throw from the Panthers' catcher in the next at-bat when Robin Martz dropped bunt right in front of home plate. Beth Shelus bunted to move the runners over but reached when the throw to first popped out of the second baseman's glove.

Yusko came up next and knocked a sharp single into left field, scoring Willis. Kelly Dianis came in next as a pinch-hitter and registered an RBI-single. Kristy Vanek then drilled a double down the left field, allowing two more runs to score.

A grounder off the bat of Courtney Lyons sent Dianis home with the sixth run of the inning, and Mussillo collected her second RBI of the inning when she sacrificed Vanek home with a long fly in right field. A wild pitch allowed Lyons to score before the inning ended.

Lisa Gartland did the rest for Lewis, allowing just one hit over the next three innings. Julie Wingerter (4-0), who came in relief of Roney, picked up the win by pitching 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball while striking out four batters.

Wingerter also made a relief appearance in the second game and struck out six over 3 2/3 scoreless innings of work.

The Flyers took the early lead in the second game when Dianis homered in the first inning and Mussillo collected an RBI on a ground-out in the second inning.

But a three-run third and two-run fourth inning put the Panthers ahead for good. A Flyers' error in third inning allowed two runs to score, and Haleigh Ashworth's two-run home run off of Lyons (5-2) in the fourth inning provided more insurance for the Panthers.

Lewis managed two runs in the fifth inning when Vanek collected a two-RBI single, but a base-running mistake ended the rally prematurely.

The Flyers play again on Sunday when they host a doubleheader against Saginaw Valley State at 11 am.