March 26, 2009

Box Score

Game 1: Lewis 10, St. Francis (IL) 4

Game 2: Lewis 16, St. Francis (IL) 0

Joliet, Ill. - The weather was cloudy, but the #21 Lewis University softball team brought the thunder and the lightning, as the Flyers pounded out a total of 26 runs and 30 hits in their 10-4, 16-0 (5 inn.) doubleheader sweep of St. Francis (IL) at the Inwood Softball Complex on Thursday afternoon.

Nine different players recorded at least two hits on the afternoon, with senior first baseman Carissa Castonzo (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) leading the way. Castonzo went 5-for-7 with five runs scored on the afternoon with a .714 (5-for-7) batting average.

"Today was a great opportunity for everyone to play and help contribute to our victories," Lewis University head softball coach George DiMatteo said.

With the victories, Lewis improves to 23-10 on the campaign, while the host Saints fall to 6-12 on the campaign.

In the opener, five different Lewis players recorded a pair of hits, while sophomore Sarah Hurley (Bolingbrook, Ill./Plainfield Central) collected a team-best three hits and two RBI against the Saints. Senior shortstop Kelly Dianis (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) collected her first homer of the season, a solo shot in the third inning.

Lewis sophomore hurler Diana Pickrum (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) improved to a perfect 7-0 on the season, as she allowed three runs and scattered seven hits in five innings of work while fanning two batters. St. Francis starter Kim Malacina took the loss for the Saints, allowing five runs and 10 hits in 3.1 innings pitched.

The top of the lineup did the most damage for the Flyers in the nightcap, as the No. 1 through 4 hitters went a combined 8-for-14 with 13 runs scored and five RBI. Castonzo went 3-for-3 with four runs scored and a RBI, while catcher Stephanie Harmon (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield South) went 1-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI, including her team-best seventh home run of the season.

Lewis senior pitcher Julie Wingerter (Channahon, Ill./Minooka) earned her sixth victory of the season as she allowed just one hit and struck out three batters in three innings of work. USF pitcher Jacie Spudic was tagged with the loss for the Saints, allowing nine runs and eight hits in 1.2 innings pitched.

Lewis is back in action on Saturday afternoon, as the Flyers travel to Owensboro, Kentucky to square off with Kentucky Wesleyan for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.

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 10th largest private, not-for-profit university in Illinois 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.

##LEWIS##