March 23, 2010

GM 1 Box Score
GM 2 Box Score

Softball: Lewis 7, St. Francis (IL) 3 (GM 1)

Softball: Lewis 6, St. Francis (IL) 3 (GM 2)

Romeoville, Ill. - With only seven miles separating Lewis University and the University of St. Francis (IL), one could only assume that Tuesday's softball doubleheader between the Flyers and Saints would be a hard fought one.

That proved to be true, as Lewis pounded out 24 total hits in the twinbill to hold off a pesky St. Francis squad for the 7-3, 6-3 doubleheader sweep at the Lewis Softball Field.

"St. Francis came to play today," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "They played well and they played very hard. Both games were battles and there was plenty of drama to go around. I'm glad we were able to win and now we need to get ready for a big weekend in Missouri."

With the sweep, Lewis improves to 12-4 on the campaign, while the visiting Saints fall to 4-10 overall.

Junior Kayla Smith (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard North) was the offensive catalyst for the Flyers in the opener as she went 3-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored. Sophomore third baseman Traci Freitag (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central) went 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored, while junior first baseman Stephanie Harmon (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield South) added two hits, two runs and a RBI in the win.

Lewis senior pitcher Allison Hernandez (Berwyn, Ill./Trinity/Triton) earned her second win of the season in the opener, allowing four hits and striking out two batters in four innings of work against the Saints. Freshman Amy Christopher (Lafayette, Colo./Holy Family) tossed three innings of scoreless and hitless relief to earn her first career save in a Lewis uniform.

USF starter Jackie Frey (1-3) was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs, three earned, and six hits in three innings of work for the Saints.

In the nightcap, junior hurler Diana Pickrum (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) picked up her fourth victory of the season, as she allowed just two hits and struck out six batters in 6.1 innings of work. Pickrum has not allowed a run in her last 13.2 innings pitched. She also helped her own cause at the plate, as she was 2-for-4, including a solo home run in the fifth inning.

Pickrum was one of four Flyers to have two base hits in the second game, including Lewis' top of the lineup. Freshmen Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West), Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) and sophomore Katie Healy (Homewood, Ill./Marian Catholic) combined to go 6-for-11 at the dish with three runs scored and three RBI. Hefler went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI, while Healy was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Vuscko was 2-for-3 with three RBI.

USF starter Kim Malacina (2-4) took the loss for the Saints, as she surrendered four unearned runs and seven hits in four innings pitched.

Lewis returns to action on Saturday (March 27) afternoon, as the Flyers head to Springfield, Missouri to square off with Drury for a 12 PM doubleheader.

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 9th largest private, not-for-profit university in Illinois is being honored for the sixth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. For more information please visit www.lewisu.edu.

##LEWIS##