April 25, 2010

GM 1 Box Score
GM 2 Box Score

Softball: No. 15 Lewis 5, Northern Kentucky 0 (GM 1) in PDF Format
Softball: Northern Kentucky 4, No. 15 Lewis 3 (GM 2) in PDF Format

Romeoville, Ill. - The No. 15 Lewis University softball team played arguably one of its best all-around games of the year with a 5-0 Great Lakes Valley Conference win over Northern Kentucky in their opening game, but the visiting Norse responded with a 4-3 win over the host Flyers in the nightcap to salvage the doubleheader sweep at the Lewis Softball Field on Sunday (Apr. 25) afternoon.

With the split, Lewis moves to 32-12 on the season and 19-7 in GLVC action, while the Norse are now 28-15 overall and 18-7 in conference play.

Lewis sophomore pitcher Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) was simply masterful, as she twirled a two-hit, complete-game shutout, her third of the season. Habel (15-6) struck out three batters in seven innings of work.

The Flyers jumped on Northern Kentucky starter April Ehlers (13-10) right away in the first inning, as they tagged her for four runs, including a three-run homer by junior left fielder Sarah Hurley (Bolingbrook, Ill./Plainfield Central).

Freshman center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) and junior first baseman Stephanie Harmon (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central) each had two hits in the win. Hefler went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Harmon was 2-for-2 with a run scored.

In game two, the Norse jumped out to a 3-0 lead following a bases-clearing triple by sophomore shortstop Jessica Farris in the second inning.

Lewis would hack into the lead on a two-run double by junior second baseman Kayla Smith (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard North) in the fourth inning and tied the game in the fifth on a RBI infield single by junior Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist).

Farris capped off her day in the top of the seventh inning with a leadoff double off of Habel, who came on in relief, and moved over to third base on a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Stephanie West. NKU second baseman Rose Broderick lined out to second base, but Smith's attempt to double off Ferris at third base failed, as her throw went array and allowed her to score the winning run.

Habel was the hard-luck loser for the Flyers, as she allowed one hit and one run in two innings of relief. Ehlers was the winner in relief for NKU, as she tossed three innings of two-hit, scoreless relief while striking out a batter.

"This was a great battle of two very good teams vying for the top seed in the GLVC," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "I thought (game one) was the best we came out all season and we were smoking hot at the plate. Everything from pitching, hitting and defense really came through in the opener.

"The second game was just a tremendous comeback," DiMatteo continued. "Our team never thought the game was over and they were confident that we could tie and take the lead. All in all, I was very proud of our players and they deserve a few days off after playing 14 games in nine days."

The Flyers return to action on Thursday (Apr. 29), as they welcome Robert Morris College to the Lewis Softball Field for a 3 PM (CST) doubleheader.

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##