May 16, 2010
Box Score
NCAA Midwest Softball Regional: Ashland 4, Lewis 1 in PDF Format 
Ashland, Ohio - Ashland University third baseman Alyssa Kelley went 3-for-3 with three RBI, a pair of doubles and a run scored to lift the No. 18 Eagles to the 4-1 victory over Lewis University to claim the NCAA Division II Midwest Softball Regional Championship at Brookside Park on Sunday (May 16) afternoon.
"We played our hearts out today and left it all on the field," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "We played a very strong game, but we just didn't have an answer for Kelley. Give all the credit in the world to Ashland for beating what I think is one of our finest teams.
"This season has been one of the most pleasant experiences I've had as a coach," DiMatteo continued. "We laid it out on the line and who knows, maybe next year will be our turn?"
With the win, Ashland improves to 36-11 on the season and move on to the Super Regional next weekend. Lewis ends the 2010 campaign with a record of 39-17.
Lewis freshman shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) led the Flyers offensively as she went 3-for-3 with a run scored, while sophomore catcher Mary Giancarlo (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) was 2-for-3 with a RBI.
Ashland pitcher Emlyn Knerem (23-3) picked up the win for the Eagles, as she allowed one run and seven hits and struck out six batters. Lewis sophomore hurler Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) took the loss, allowing four runs and seven hits while fanning two batters to drop to 19-8 on the season.
Ashland touched Habel for three runs in the bottom of the third inning on back-to-back, two-out, RBI doubles by Kelley (2-run) and Logan Hursey.
The Flyers answered in the fourth on a RBI single by Giancarlo to cut the Eagles' lead to 3-1.
Kelley tacked on another run for the Eagles in the fifth frame with a RBI double to left center, pushing Ashland's advantage to 4-1.
The Flyers brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning following singles by Giancarlo and Kayla Smith (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard North), but Knerem fanned pinch hitter Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) to end the game.
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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