March 27, 2010

GM 1 Box Score
GM 2 Box Score

Softball: Drury 3, Lewis 1 (GM 1) in PDF Format
Softball: Lewis 8, Drury 3 (GM 2) in PDF Format

Springfield, Mo. - Despite dropping the opening game to Drury University, 3-1, the Lewis University softball team responded with the 8-3 win over the host Panthers in the nightcap to salvage the Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader split at Thompson Field on Saturday (March 27) afternoon.

With the split, Lewis moves to 13-5 on the season and 3-1 in GLVC play, while the host Panthers are now 8-20 overall and 4-5 in conference action.

In the opener, Drury jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on back-to-back RBI doubles from Amber Hayden (two run) and Denise Taylor. All three runs were unearned, as the Flyers committed two errors and a passed ball in the frame.

Lewis answered in the top of the sixth inning, as first baseman Stephanie Harmon (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield South) drew a lead-off walk and advanced to third on a double from freshman Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris). Harmon would score on a wild pitch from Kelsea Garthoff to bring the Flyers to within two at 3-1.

The Flyers made the game interesting in the top of the seventh inning, as they loaded the bases with two outs. Garthoff (6-9), however, induced Hanford into a game-ending pop-up to secure the win for the Panthers.

Lewis junior second baseman Kayla Smith (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard North), sophomore designated player Katie Healy (Homewood, Ill./Marian Catholic) and freshman third baseman Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) each had two hits against Garthoff on the afternoon.

Lewis starting pitcher Diana Pickrum (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) took the complete-game loss for the Flyers, as she allowed just three hits, but surrendered six bases on balls. Pickrum is now 4-2 on the campaign.

In the nightcap, Lewis jumped out early with a three-run first inning. Freshman center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) led the game off with a bunt single and moved over to second base on a passed ball. Drury starting pitcher Laura McCarthy then loaded the bases with a bunt single from Healy and a walk from Vucsko. Lewis scored on each of their next three at-bats, with RBI from Harmon (infield single), Hanford (sac fly) and a groundout from sophomore catcher Mary Giancarlo (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South).

Lewis continued the onslaught in the second inning, as sophomore Traci Freitag (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central) roped a one-out single. She stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Drury catcher Sadie Ball. McCarthy issued her second walk to Hefler, which brought Healy to the plate.

Healy singled to left to score Freitag and Hefler moved to third on the play. Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo then put on the double steal with Healy and Hefler, which extended Lewis' advantage to 5-0. For the game, Healy went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs and a RBI, while Harmon went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI.

The Flyers added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning, as Giancarlo roped a two-run single off of McCarthy to extend Lewis' lead to 7-1. Drury answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Flyers countered in the next frame with a sacrifice fly by junior outfielder Jessica Jennings (Morris, Ill./Morris).

Lewis sophomore pitcher Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) allowed two runs and scattered eight hits while striking out two batters to improve her record to 6-1 on the season. McCarthy took the loss for the Panthers, dropping to 2-8 on the season.

Lewis returns to action on Sunday (March 28), as they head to Rolla, Mo., for a 12 PM doubleheader against Missouri S&T.

A Catholic university sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers more than 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 ninth 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. Please visit www.lewisu.edu for more information.

##LEWIS##