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Rensselaer, Ind. - The Lewis University softball team used some clutch hitting against Saint Joseph's to earn the 2-0 win in game one of their doubleheader, but the host Pumas were able to salvage the split with a 4-0 victory in the nightcap over the visiting Flyers at Puma Field on Tuesday (March 20) evening.

"I thought we played very well in game one," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "It was a big win with some clutch hitting. Game two was awful. We're right back to square one and it's disappointing that we weren't able to capitalize on the momentum we had from the opener."

With the split, Saint Joseph's is now 16-6 overall and 7-1 in GLVC action, while the Flyers are now 11-14 overall and 5-7 in conference play.

The opening game was a pitcher's duel between Lewis' Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) and Saint Joseph's Megan Ramey, as the duo surrendered a combined seven hits and the game was scoreless through the first six innings.

The Flyers, however, got their hits when they needed them the most. Lewis junior right fielder Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) (Morris, Ill./Morris) connected for a one-out single through the left side. Flyer catcher Mary Giancarlo (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) advanced pinch runner Gianna Coduti (Melrose Park, Ill./Trinity) (Melrose Park, Ill./Trinity) to second base with a sacrifice bunt.

Lewis sophomore first baseman Alyssa Moseley (Crown Point, Ind./Andrean) (Crown Point, Ind./Andrean) plated Coduti with a RBI single and advanced to second base on the throw home to give the Flyers a 1-0 advantage. Brems then drove in pinch-runner Alicia McKendry (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) with another two-out, RBI single to center field to extend Lewis' lead to 2-0.

Hanford led the Flyers offensively with two hits, followed by Moseley and Brems' two-out RBI singles.

Brems (5-6) earned the complete-game, two-hit shutout, as she struck out three batters in the win. Ramey (9-2) surrendered two runs and five hits, while fanning two batters in the loss.

In the nightcap, the Flyers could not find any holes against Saint Joseph starting pitcher Sarah Franklin. Franklin (6-3) earned the complete-game, four-hit shutout over Lewis, while striking out four batters. Lewis starting pitcher Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) falls to 4-4 on the season, as she gave up all four runs on five hits in 4.1 innings pitched, while fanning one batter.

Saint Joseph's shortstop Amy Varner went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored to lead the Pumas offensively in game two, while senior first baseman Rachel Weaver went 2-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored.

Lewis junior center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) topped the Flyers offensively in the nightcap, going 2-for-2.

Lewis returns to action on Wednesday (March 21), as the Flyers welcome Upper Iowa for a 2 p.m. (CST) doubleheader at the Lewis Softball Field.