April 21, 2010
GM 1 Box Score
GM 2 Box Score
Softball: No. 15 Lewis 8, Saint Joseph's 6 (GM 1) in PDF Format 
Softball: No. 15 Lewis 3, Saint Joseph's 2 (GM 2) in PDF Format
Rensselaer, Ind. - Lewis University head softball coach George DiMatteo won his 900th career game on Wednesday (Apr. 21) evening, as the No. 15 Flyers earned the 8-6, 3-2 Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader sweep over Saint Joseph's at Puma Field.
"900 wins means I've been coaching for a long time," DiMatteo said of his achievement. "None of this would have ever been possible without my high school coaches at Kelvyn Park, who made athletics very enjoyable for me. I've had the opportunity to play and work with two legendary coaches in Gordie Gillespie and Irish O'Reilly who provided me the inspiration to be a coach. My wife Deb, who is a Hall of Fame coach herself, has given me great support and insight into coaching - she's done so much to help me be a success. I've had the wonderful support of our administration, three wonderful Athletics Directors and all of our support staff. I've been very fortunate."
With the sweep, Lewis improves to 28-10 on the season and 17-5 in GLVC action, while the host Pumas drop to 24-19 overall and 9-13 in conference play.
In the opener, Saint Joseph's jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage over Lewis starting pitcher Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South), before the Flyers exploded for a five-run fifth inning.
Lewis sophomore third baseman Traci Freitag (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central) started the rally with a one-out single. Freitag would score on a RBI triple from freshman center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) to cut the lead to 2-1. Hefler was 4-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI in the opener.
Sophomore designated player Katie Healy (Homewood, Ill./Marian Catholic) plated Hefler with a RBI single to even the score up at 2-apiece. Freshman shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) reached base on a single to put a pair of runners on for Lewis first baseman Stephanie Harmon (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield South).
Harmon deposited an offering from SJC pitcher Sarah Franklin over the outfield wall, a three-run shot, for her eighth homer of the season to give Lewis the 5-2 advantage.
The Pumas, however, would tag Habel for a total of three more runs in the fifth and sixth inning to square the game up at 5-apiece.
The Flyers responded immediately in the top of the seventh with three runs on a RBI single by junior left fielder Sarah Hurley (Bolingbrook, Ill./Plainfield Central) and a two-run triple by sophomore catcher Mary Giancarlo (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) to give Lewis the 8-5 lead.
Lewis' job was not done, as the Pumas loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. SJC right fielder Stephenie Hash lifted a weak pop up that fell between Lewis reliever Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) and Giancarlo. Hanford's throw home to Giancarlo sailed over her head, allowing Kristen Paris to score from third. Giancarlo, however, was able to throw out Puma designated player Sara Twining, who tried to score all the way from second base for the final out of the game.
Habel (12-4) scattered 12 hits and allowed five runs, two earned, and struck out three batters to earn the win. Hanford surrendered one unearned run in the seventh inning to pick up her first career save. Franklin (12-8) took the complete-game loss for the Pumas, giving up eight runs and 12 hits.
In the nightcap, the Flyers found themselves trailing 1-0 in the sixth inning, but they were able to take advantage of a Puma miscue for two unearned runs. Lewis had runners at second and third with two outs, as Vucsko rolled a grounder to SJC shortstop Amy Varner. Varner's throw to first pulled Puma first baseman Megan Ramey off the base allowing the tying run to score. Harmon tacked on the go-ahead run for the Flyers with a RBI single to left field.
Lewis added another run in the seventh inning to extend their lead to 3-1 on a RBI single by senior second baseman Kara Harmatys (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport).
Saint Joseph's rallied in the bottom of the seventh, as Brittnie Boerema roped a solo homer off of Lewis starter Amy Christopher (Lafayette, Colo./Holy Family) to narrow the gap to 3-2. The Pumas, however, were unable to do any more damage as Christopher (5-2) shut the door for her fourth consecutive victory in as many appearances. Christopher allowed two runs and seven hits while striking out three batters in the complete-game win. Puma reliever Rachel Weaver (5-6) took the loss, as she gave up three runs, one earned, and five hits in five innings of work.
Lewis returns to the diamond on Thursday (Apr. 22) night, as the Flyers head to Elgin to square off with Judson University for a 5 PM (CST) first pitch.
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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