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Romeoville, Ill. - Lewis University junior right fielder Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) (Morris, Ill./Morris) and freshman pitcher Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) both may have been late to the Flyers' non-conference doubleheader against Upper Iowa on Tuesday (March 21) afternoon due to class conflicts, but they each came ready to play.

Hanford broke a 2-all tie in the bottom of the eighth inning in the opener with a walk-off, two-out, pinch-hit single to give the Flyers the 3-2 win over the Peacocks, while Brems tossed a complete-game, five-hitter in Lewis' 3-2 win in the nightcap at the Lewis Softball Field.

With the sweep, Lewis improves to 13-14 overall, while the Peacocks fall to 8-17 on the season.

"We had some good pitching and defense today, as well as some clutch hitting," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "It was a good couple of wins today against a pretty good Upper Iowa team."

With the score tied at two in the bottom of the eighth inning of game one, Brems singled with two outs to keep the Flyers' hopes alive. Lewis freshman second baseman Frankie Rys (Homer Glen, Ill./Marist) (Homer Glen, Ill./Marist) moved pinch runner GIanna Coduti (Melrose Park, Ill./Trinity) (Melrose Park, Ill./Trinity) over to third base with another two-out, single. Hanford stepped to the plate and ended game one with a walk-off, RBI single up the middle for the Flyers.

Lewis junior shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) (Chicago, Ill./Marist) led the Flyers offensively, as she went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, while junior center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) reached base twice and scored two runs.

Flyer senior pitcher Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) claimed the complete-game victory, as she allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings of work, while fanning three batters to improve her record to 3-4 on the campaign. Her counterpart, Kylee Knop (5-8) was tagged with the loss, as she allowed three runs and eight hits in 7.2 innings, while striking out one.

Upper Iowa catcher Erin Van Pragg went 2-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored to top the Peacocks.

In game two, the Flyers gave Brems all the breathing room she needed with a three-run fourth-inning, highlighted by a two-run single by senior second baseman Alicia McKendry (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) (Minooka, Ill./Minooka). Brems (2-for-3, RBI) added a RBI of her own during the frame with a single down the right field line.

Brems was equally as dominant in the circle, as she allowed two runs, one earned, and five hits while striking out five batters in the complete-game win. She fared well under pressure against the Peacocks as she stranded six Upper Iowa base-runners, including four in scoring position.

Hanford and junior catcher Alexis Munaco (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) each went 2-for-3 with a run scored in the victory for the Flyers.

Upper Iowa starting pitcher Bailee Habermann (0-1) took the loss for the Peacocks in game two. Haberman completed four innings, allowing three runs and seven hits while striking out one batter.

Lewis returns to action on Saturday (March 24), as the Flyers host Southern Indiana for a 12 p.m. (CST) Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader.