March 14, 2009
Box Score
Kansas City, Mo. - Lewis University head softball coach George DiMatteo knew his #13 Flyers would be in for a battle on Saturday afternoon, as his squad not only would be playing their first games in nine days, but would be challenged by a pair of All-GLVC pitchers in Rockhurst's Emily Dye and Heather Robertson.
The rust was evident in the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener, as Dye (3-1) held the Flyers hitless over the first seven innings and struck out nine batters to push the Hawks to the 1-0 win over Lewis in nine innings. The Flyers, however, showed their mettle in the nightcap, using a four-run sixth inning to propel them to the 6-3 come-from-behind victory over Robinson and the Hawks.
"Offensively we did not do well in the opener, but you have to credit Rockhurst's pitching," DiMatteo said. "In the second game, however, our bats came alive. I'm glad that we came away with a win. I'll take the split with the way we came from behind. I'm very pleased."
With the split, Lewis moves to 17-8 on the season and 1-1 in GLVC play, while the Hawks are now 6-5 overall and 1-1 in conference action.
Lewis senior pitcher Courtney Lyons (San Pedro, Calif./San Pedro) was the tough-luck loser for the Flyers in the opener, as she allowed three hits in 8.2 innings of work, while fanning nine Rockhurst batters.
Lyons (4-4) was cruising until the ninth when she plunked Kayla Thomas to open the frame. She induced a pop-out from Hawks' third-baseman Kristen Benes, which brought Kelli Vanderwell to the plate. Vanderwell lifted a fly ball that Lewis' left fielder Lexie Vernon (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) misjudged, allowing her to reach base and moving Thomas to second on the play.
Rockhurst's next batter, Megan Abney sent a grounder to Lewis shortstop Kelly Dianis (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) who forced Vanderwell at second, but the Flyers were unable to double-up Abney at first base. Thomas moved to third on the play.
Hawks' catcher Lindsay Williams, who was 0-for-3 against Lyons on the afternoon, promptly ended the game with one swing of the bat with a walk-off single that scored Thomas from third.
Lewis used some clutch hitting of its own in the nightcap, as the Flyers found themselves trailing 3-2 following the fifth inning.
Flyers' sophomore Stephanie Harmon (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield South) drew a lead-off walk to open the frame and advanced to third on a one-out single by senior outfielder Lisa Gartland (Escanaba, Mich./Escanaba). Gartland (2-for-4, 2B) advanced to second base as Harmon (2-for-3) beat Rockhurst's throw to third.
Lewis senior outfielder Jessica Beck (Jasper, Ind./Jasper) stepped to the plate and roped a two-run single up the middle to put the Flyers ahead for good at 4-3. Beck advanced to second as Gartland beat the throw home. The Flyers would beat yet another Rockhurst throw as Beck scored on a Michelle Yudys (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South) single to left field. Yudys (2-for-2) moved to second on the play and was plated with a RBI single by junior infielder Kara Harmatys (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport), extending the Flyers' advantage to 6-3.
Lewis senior pitcher Julie Wingerter (Channahon, Ill./Minooka) improved her record to 5-2 on the season, as she scattered six hits and struck out six batters in 5.1 innings of work. Sophomore reliever Diana Pickrum earned her first career save, tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Robertson (2-3) was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs and five hits in 5.1 inning of work while striking out four batters.
The Flyers return to action on Sunday (March 15), as they travel to Springfield, Mo., to face off with Drury for a doubleheader that begins at 12 p.m. (CST).
A Catholic University sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, accelerated degree completion options for working adults, various aviation programs and 22 graduate programs in nine fields. The mid-sized university is being honored for the fifth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. For more information please visit www.lewisu.edu.
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