May 10, 2009
Box Score
NCAA Midwest Regional: #21 Ferris State 5, Lewis 2 in PDF Format 
University Center, Mich. - Defense proved to be the downfall for the Lewis University softball team on Sunday morning, as #21 Ferris State took advantage of four Flyer errors on their way to the 5-2 NCAA Midwest Regional victory at the SVSU Sports Complex.
Despite the loss, Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo remained upbeat about the Flyers' 2009 season.
"Sure we would have liked to have gone further in the tournament, but it doesn't take away from what we've accomplished this season," DiMatteo said. "We have eight wonderful seniors who have been a part of four consecutive teams that have made the NCAA Regionals and have won close to 150 games during their careers. We'll miss them, but we have a lot to look forward to in the years to come."
With the victory, Ferris State improves to 34-9 and will play Northern Kentucky for the right to square off with host Saginaw Valley State for the championship. Lewis ends the season with a record of 38-20.
Lewis senior Julie Wingerter (Channahon, Ill./Minooka) took the loss for the Flyers, as she allowed two runs in 5.2 innings of work and struck out two batters, dropping her to 9-5 on the campaign. FSU's Holly Bruntjens improved to 14-8 on the campaign, allowing two runs and eight hits in six innings of work.
Ferris State got on the board first in the third inning, as Makenzi Peterson drew a walk from Wingerter to open the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lynsay Weaver.
FSU center fielder Rachel Wade (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI) plated Peterson from second on a RBI single up the middle and moved to second on a fielding error by Lewis center fielder Traci Freitag (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central).
Wade would move to third on a passed ball by Lewis catcher Mary Giancarlo (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) and scored on a RBI single by catcher Krystle Bailey (2-for-3, 2 RBI, run).
The Flyers' defensive woes continued in the fifth inning, as they committed three errors in the frame, leading to three runs. Bailey added another RBI single for the Bulldogs in the inning.
Lewis, however, made a late surge in the top of the seventh inning, as they loaded the bases with three consecutive singles. Flyers' senior left fielder Lisa Gartland (Escanaba, Mich./Escanaba) pushed the first run across with a RBI single and sophomore Sarah Hurley (Bolingbrook, Ill./Plainfield Central) drove in another run with a fielder's choice, cutting FSU's lead to 5-2.
FSU reliever Kayle Stevenson, however, retired both Kayla Smith (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard North) and first baseman Carissa Castonzo (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) to end the threat and earn her first save of the season.
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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