May 7, 2010

Box Score

GLVC Softball Tournament: Lewis 6, Missouri S&T 5 in PDF Format

East Peoria, Ill. - There has been no shortage of excitement in the 2010 Lewis University softball season, and Friday (May 7) afternoon proved to be no different.

The Flyers scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, highlighted by a walk-off single by sophomore third baseman Traci Freitag (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central), to claim the 6-5 come-from-behind win over Missouri S&T in the opening game of the 2010 Great Lakes Valley Conference Softball Tournament at the Eastside Centre.

With the win, Lewis improves to 34-15 while the Miners drop to 26-22. Lewis moves on to face Quincy at 5:30 PM today, while the Miners will take on Southern Indiana at 3:30 PM.

The Flyers took advantage of some mistakes by Missouri S&T in the third inning, as they posted four runs off of Miner starting pitcher Ashley Wallingford. Two runs scored on a fielding error by Missouri S&T left fielder Katie Smith and one run scored on a Wallingford wild pitch. Lewis sophomore catcher Mary Giancarlo (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) was the lone Flyer to drive in a run with a RBI single.

Missouri S&T hacked into that lead in the fifth inning, as pinch hitter Maggie Schroeder connected for a three-run homer off of Lewis starting pitcher Diana Pickrum (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) to bring the score to 4-3.

The Miners took the lead in the sixth inning, as designated player Kassi Deibert roped a two-run, two-out single to push Missouri S&T ahead, 5-4.

With their backs against the wall, the Flyers began their rally in the seventh inning with a one-out single by junior first baseman Stephanie Harmon (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield South). Giancarlo stepped to the plate and sent a come-backer to Missouri S&T reliever Taylor Keal for what seemed to be the game-ending double play.

Keal's throw, however, sailed into center field and runners were safe at first and second for the Flyers.

Junior left fielder Sarah Hurley (Bolingbrook, Ill./Plainfield Central) took advantage of the extra out and roped a RBI double that would score Harmon from second and even the score up at five.

Keal issued an intentional walk to junior second baseman Kayla Smith (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard North) to load the bases with one out. Freshman right fielder Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) reached base on a fielders choice, as Giancarlo was thrown out at the plate by Miners shortstop Krista Porterfield.

With two outs, Freitag took a Keal offering and bounced it past the outstretched glove of Miners' third baseman Jennifer Sardigal for the game-winning RBI.

Pickrum improved her record to 9-4 on the season, as she allowed five runs and 11 hits while striking out two batters. Keal (14-10) gave up two runs and five hits in four innings of relief.

A Catholic university sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers nearly 90 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##