April 17, 2010

GM 1 Box Score
GM 2 Box Score

Softball: No. 13 Lewis 8, Southern Indiana 5 (8 inn.) (GM 1) in PDF Format
Softball: No. 13 Lewis 7, Southern Indiana 5 (GM 2) in PDF Format

Evansville, Ind. - Lewis University head softball coach George DiMatteo knew it was important for his squad to come out with a vengeance against Southern Indiana on Saturday (Apr. 17) afternoon, after UW-Parkside had swept them on Wednesday evening.

DiMatteo's No. 3 through 5 hitters took it upon themselves to make sure the No. 13 Flyers responded in a positive fashion, as they combined to bat 10-for-18 with 12 RBI and seven runs scored in Lewis' 8-5 (8 inn.), 7-5, doubleheader sweep of the host Screaming Eagles at the USI Softball Field.

"We needed these wins today and I thought we responded favorably," DiMatteo said. "After Wednesday, our team was pretty upset and they made it a point to come down here and take care of business."

Freshman shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist), who batted third, was 4-for-5 with two RBI, while junior clean-up hitter Stephanie Harmon (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield South) was 4-for-6 with four RBI, including a two-run home run in the opening game. Junior second baseman Kayla Smith (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard North) had two hits and six RBI, including the game-winning grand slam in the eighth inning of game one out of the number five spot.

With the sweep, Lewis improves to 23-9 overall and 13-5 in GLVC action, while the host Screaming Eagles drop to 13-21 on the campaign and 10-10 in conference play.

Momentum was squarely on the side of the Southern Indiana softball team in game one, as the Screaming Eagles rallied from a 4-0 deficit against Lewis with a four-run fifth inning and sent the game into extra innings.

With the score tied at four in the top of the eighth, Lewis sophomore designated player Katie Healy (Homewood, Ill./Marian Catholic) reached base on a fielding error by USI shortstop Dani Finkelstein. Healy moved over to third base on a double from Vucsko, bringing Harmon to the plate.

Harmon was issued an intentional walk to load the bases and set the stage for Smith's game-winning heroics.

Southern Indiana starting pitcher Stephanie Bittner (3-2) took the complete-game loss for the Screaming Eagles, as she allowed eight runs, seven earned, and eight hits. Lewis starting pitcher Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) improved her record to 10-3 on the season, as she scattered 11 hits and struck out three batters for the complete-game victory.

Vucsko, Harmon and Smith were at it again in the nightcap, as that trio was a combined 6-for-9 at the dish with four RBI and three runs scored. Vucsko was 2-for-2 with a run scored, while Harmon was 3-for 4 with two RBI and a run scored. Smith had two RBI in game two.

Freshman Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while classmate Alexis Munaco (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored.

Lewis starting pitcher Amy Christopher (Lafayette, Colo./Holy Family) earned her second victory of the season, as the freshman allowed three runs, two earned, and scattered eight hits in five innings of work. Senior Allison Hernandez (Berwyn, Ill./Trinity/Triton) pitched the final two innings for the Flyers to earn the save.

USI starting pitcher Hadley Smith (5-12) took the loss for the Screaming Eagles, as she surrendered seven runs, six earned, and 11 hits in 6.1 innings of action.

Lewis returns to action on Sunday (Apr. 18), as they head to Owensboro, Ky., to square off with Kentucky Wesleyan for a 12 PM (CST) twinbill.

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##