March 4, 2009
Box Score
Kissimmee, Fla. - The #14 Lewis University softball team continued to sizzle during the Rebel Spring Games, as the Flyers earned the 4-1 regional victory over Lake Superior State and 1-0 win over Mount Olive to improve their `Spring Break' trip mark to 9-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Fortune Road Softball Complex.
With the victories, Lewis improves to 14-7 on the campaign.
"Offensively we just didn't hit as well as we're capable of," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "We needed the (day off yesterday), but our pitching and defense got the job done today and I'll certainly take that."
In the opener, the Flyers took advantage of some shoddy Lake Superior State defense, as Lewis scored four runs on four hits and four errors in the fourth inning to clinch the victory. Lewis senior Lisa Gartland (Escanaba, Mich./Escanaba) roped a one-out single to left field and moved to second on a walk by winning pitcher Diana Pickrum (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest).
Lewis senior infielder Michelle Yudys (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South) roped a single to load the bases, but an errant throw by Lake Superior State's right fielder allowed Gartland to score from third. Once the Lakers' catcher retrieved the ball, she tried to throw out Pickrum, while she was advancing to third. Her throw, however, sailed into left field, allowing Pickrum to score, with Yudys moving to second on the play.
Lewis senior left fielder Jessica Beck (Jasper, Ind./Jasper) reached base on a swinging bunt, allowing Yudys to move to third on the play. Beck would later steal second. One out later, senior Courtney Lyons (San Pedro, Calif./San Pedro) would plate Yudys with an RBI single, with Beck moving to third.
The Flyers would score their final run of the inning as sophomore designated player Stephanie Harmon (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield South) roped a shot that went through the Lake Superior State second baseman's legs, to plate Beck.
Beck was the defensive star of the game as she robbed Lake Superior State's Nichole Dunford of a game-tying three-run homer over the left field wall in the top/bottom of the fifth inning.
Pickrum improved to 3-0 on the campaign, as she allowed one run and scattered five hits in 4.1 innings of work. Senior Julie Wingerter (Channahon, Ill./Minooka) tossed 2.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn her first save of the season.
In the 1-0 win over Mount Olive, Lyons proved to be all the firepower that the Flyers needed as she tossed a complete-game shutout while fanning 12 Trojan batters.
For good measure, Lyons also went 3-for-3 at the plate off of Mount Olive losing pitcher Kristin Ware, including the game-winning RBI double in the 5th inning that scored junior Lexie Vernon (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) from second base. Lyons (4-3), who has been fighting an illness recently, had three out of the Flyers' four hits on the afternoon against Ware.
"Courtney Lyons proved again what a great player she is and how she can take control of a game," DiMatteo said.
Lewis rounds out the Rebel Spring Games on Thursday, as they face both Northwood (11 a.m.) and St. Xavier (3 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 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.
##LEWIS##
