May 14, 2010
Box Score
NCAA Softball Regional: Northern Kentucky 3, Lewis 2 (11 inn.) in PDF Format 
Ashland, Ohio - The opportunities presented themselves for both the Lewis University and Northern Kentucky University softball teams for their NCAA Division II Midwest Regional match-up at Ashland University's Brookside Park on Friday (May 14) afternoon.
Unfortunately, the Norse made the most of their chances, as they scored in the top of the 11th inning on an infield single by NKU pitcher Emily Schwaeble to earn the 3-2 win over the Flyers and advance in the winner's bracket.
Northern Kentucky (35-18) takes on host Ashland at 12 PM (EST) on Saturday afternoon, while the Flyers (37-16) square off with Tiffin immediately following that contest at 2:30 PM (EST).
Both teams combined to leave 26 runners on base and 16 in scoring position. The Flyers stranded 12 runners and eight in scoring position and left the bags full on three different occasions.
"One hit with the bases loaded would have made the difference today," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "We've been good all season long and today we just couldn't come through in the clutch. It's a gut-wrenching loss and I think it would be hard for most teams to recover, but I think our ladies have the resolve to come through tomorrow."
Schwaeble (11-1) earned the victory for the Norse in the circle, as she allowed two runs, one earned, and eight hits in 10 innings of work. NKU's April Ehlers tossed a scoreless 11th to earn the save. Lewis starter Diana Pickrum (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) was the hard luck loser for the Flyers, as she gave up three runs, two earned, and struck out eight in 11 innings to drop to 10-5 on the season.
Schwaeble provided the winning RBI for the Norse, but it was sophomore right fielder Ashley Gates who provided the offensive fireworks for NKU. Gates was 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, including a two-strike, two-out solo home run off of Pickrum that tied the game up at 2-apiece in the top of the seventh.
Lewis' freshman duo of Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) and Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) paced the Flyers offensive attack as they were a combined 5-for-9 with a RBI and a run scored. Hefler was 2-for-4 with three stolen bases and a run scored, while Vucsko was 3-for-5 at the dish with a RBI.
Lewis was the first to put a tally on the board in the bottom half of the frame as Hefler led off with a single and stole second.
Sophomore catcher Mary Giancarlo (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) advanced Hefler over to third on a sacrifice bunt. Vucsko plated Hefler with a RBI single to push the Flyers ahead, 1-0.
NKU tied the game up in the top of the third inning, as Norse designated player Stephanie West lined a single that got past Lewis right fielder Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) for a two base error. Pickrum retired the next two Norse batters that brought Gates to the plate.
Gates lifted a fly ball to Hefler, who appeared to make an outstanding diving catch that would have ended the threat. The ball, however, was ruled trapped, allowing West to score the game-tying run.
The Flyers, who had left the bases loaded in both the third and fourth inning, finally struck paydirt in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Giancarlo plated junior pinch runner Jessica Jennings (Morris, Ill./Morris) with the go-ahead run at 2-1 with a sacrifice fly.
The lead, however, was short-lived, as Gates was down to her last bullet, as she took a two-out, two-strike offering from Pickrum over the left field wall, tying the game up at two in the top of the seventh inning.
NKU utilized some two-out magic in the 11th inning, as shortstop Jessica Farris reached base on an infield single. She moved to third on a bloop infield single by second baseman Rose Broderick, setting the stage for Schwaeble's offensive heroics.
Notes: Vucsko's RBI in the first inning was her 49th of the season, tying the single-season record set by Mallory Paine in 2006.
Traci Freitag (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central)'s bunt single in the sixth inning extended her hitting streak to a team-best six games.
Hefler had three stolen bases against the Norse to give her 38 on the season, tying the single-season, school-record set by Robin Martz in 2005.
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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