April 11, 2010

GM 1 Box Score
GM 2 Box Score

Softball: UMSL 5, No. 20 Lewis 3 (GM 1) in PDF Format
Softball: No. 20 Lewis 10, UMSL 1 (5 inn.) (GM 2) in PDF Format

Romeoville, Ill. - The Missouri-St. Louis softball team brought out the big sticks to upset No. 20 Lewis, 5-3, in the opener, but the Flyers answered in kind with an offensive explosion in the nightcap for the 10-1 (5 inn.) win to salvage the GLVC doubleheader split at the Lewis Softball Field on Sunday (Apr. 11) afternoon.

With the split, Lewis moves to 21-7 overall and 11-3 in GLVC action, while the Tritons are now 19-13 on the campaign and 9-7 in conference play.

UMSL, who entered Sunday's doubleheader averaging 1.3 home runs-per-game, used a pair of two-run blasts from JaCee Ellis and Brooke Meyer to pick up the 5-3 win over Lewis starting pitcher Diana Pickrum (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest). Pickrum (8-3), who struck out five batters, had allowed just one earned run over her last eight appearances prior to Sunday's contest.

Tritons starting pitcher Amanda Seib (4-3) picked up the complete-game win for UMSL, scattering seven this and striking out four batters.

Lewis freshman center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) went 2-for-4 in the opener with two runs scored, while sophomore third baseman Traci Freitag (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central) chipped in two hits and scored a run.

Hefler was the offensive catalyst for the Flyers in game two, as she went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and a RBI, but it was sophomore designated player Katie Healy (Homewood, Ill./Marian Catholic) who provided the crushing blow.

With Lewis holding a 3-0 lead over UMSL in the bottom of the second inning, the Flyers had the bases loaded and no outs when Healy stepped to the plate. The Homewood, Illinois native took an offering from UMSL starting pitcher Crystal Koehler and deposited it over the center field wall for a grand slam blast, putting the Flyers ahead, 7-0. That homer was Healy's first in a Lewis uniform.

"We knew that (UMSL) was a good hitting team," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "Give our kids credit for battling back against a tough UMSL team. That second inning in game two was a blast to watch, especially seeing Katie Healy (Homewood, Ill./Marian Catholic)'s grand slam."

Lewis sophomore pitcher Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) earned her second complete-game win in as many days. Habel (9-2) allowed just four hits and struck out one batter in five innings of work. Koehler (4-2) surrendered 10 runs, nine of which were earned, and 10 hits in three innings pitched.

Lewis freshman shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) went 2-for-3 with three RBI in game two, while senior second baseman Kara Harmatys (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) was 2-for-2 with a run scored.

Lewis returns to action on Wednesday (Apr. 14) afternoon, as the Flyers welcome UW-Parkside for a twinbill beginning at 3 PM.

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.

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