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East Peoria, Ill. - Runs were scarce in the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Softball Tournament, as No. 25 Lewis University and Drury were scoreless after 7.5 innings, but sophomore center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Flyers the 1-0 win at the Eastside Centre on Friday (May 6) morning.

Lewis also rose to the occasion behind the strength of junior pitcher Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) and three double plays. Drury left five runners on base, four of which were stranded in scoring position.

Habel (12-3) struck out three batters and scattered six hits in eight innings of work. She has not allowed a run in her last 17.1 innings.

"Karissa has been pitching really well and today she kept hitters off balance with an assortment of different pitches," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "We played spectacular defense behind her as well."

With the win, Lewis improves to 31-11 and advances to play Northern Kentucky at 4 p.m. 

With no score in the eighth inning, Lewis sophomore Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) reached base on a fielding error by Drury second baseman Shawna Barrow. Flyer third baseman Traci Freitag (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central) (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central) moved her over to second base with her third sacrifice bunt of the afternoon.

Hefler advanced to third on an infield single by sophomore shorstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) (Chicago, Ill./Marist) and scored the winning run on a passed ball by Drury catcher Ashley Balazs.