April 1, 2007

Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - After holding on for a 2-1 victory in the opener, Lewis scored twice in the bottom of the seventh and once in the eighth of game two to earn a thrilling 3-2 comeback win and doubleheader sweep over No. 5 Southern Illinois Edwardsville, Sunday afternoon at the Lewis Softball Field.

No. 15 Lewis improved to 21-4 (10-0) and has won a school-record 20 consecutive games. The Flyers also have a four-game lead in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings. Southern Illinois Edwardsville dropped to 24-7 (6-4).

Trialing 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh of game two, Kelly Dianis led off with her second home run in as many days. Two batters later, Carla Musillo beat out a grounder to the shortstop, giving Lewis one on with one out. Courtney Lyons drew a walk in the next at-bat, setting the table for Christina Willis, who ripped two-out single straight up the middle. Musillo slid home ahead of the throw from center, but Lyons was thrown out attempting to advance to third, sending the game to extra innings.

The Cougars threatened to score in the top of the eighth. A one-out single followed by a sacrifice bunt and a walk gave the Cougars runners at first and second with two outs. Kaeleigh Rousey sent a single to left field in the next at-bat, and the runner on second rounded third and headed for home. Lewis left-fielder Musillo fired the ball home on a rope, beating the runner by several steps, and catcher Mallory Paine applied the tag and held on to the ball, despite a violent a collision with the base runner who chose not to slide.

Lisa Gartland led off Lewis' half of the eighth with a single and advanced to second via a sacrifice bunt from Beth Shelus. Paine came up next and hit a grounder to third, but the Cougar third baseman was off the mark with the throw and both Gartland and Paine advanced another base. Dianis was intentionally walked to load the bases in the next at-bat, bringing up pinch-hitter Jessica Beck. After working the count full, Beck hit a grounder to third allowing Gartland to race for the plate. The Cougars' third baseman chucked the ball home, but in a bang-bang play at the plate, the ball ricocheted off the catcher's glove as Gartland slid in safe with the winning run.

Lyons was credited with the win in the circle, after coming on to face the final two batters of the Cougars' eighth inning. Jenna Howard started the game for Lewis, was lifted in the fourth, only to return as a re-entry to start the eighth. She ended up working four and 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and two runs. Julie Wingerter was masterful in relief, working three and 1/3 scoreless innings. She struck out three, allowing just three hits.

Lyons also earned the win in opener after going the distance. She struck out four and held the Cougars to just four hits.

Game one was scoreless through the first four and a half innings, before Lewis broke through for a run in the fifth when Gartland singled in Willis, who reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. The Flyers added another run in the sixth. Kristy Vanek hit a one-out double, and Musillo followed with another double, bringing home Christine Juehne, who came in to run for Vanek.

The Cougars lone tally came in the seventh. A single and a walk followed by a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out. Rousey singled in the runner from third, but that's all the Cougars could get as Lyons retired the next two batters to end the game.

Dianis and Lyons each finished the day with three hits. Gartland, Musillo and Paine added two hits apiece.

Lewis returns to action on Friday, playing at Missouri-Rolla for two games.