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Owensboro, Ky. - The top of the order for the Lewis University softball team proved to be the difference in their Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader sweep over Kentucky Wesleyan, as they batted .611 (11-for-18) with 10 RBI and nine runs scored in the Flyers' 9-1 (6 inn.) and 7-6 victories over the host Panthers at Foster Field on Saturday (Apr. 21) afternoon.

Lewis junior center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) went 2-for-5 with six runs scored and five stolen bases. Sophomore left fielder Jessica Rourke (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) was 4-for-6 with five RBI and two runs scored. Junior shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) (Chicago, Ill./Marist) was 5-for-7 with five RBI, one run scored and her team-best seventh home run of the season.

"The top of the order has been huge for us," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "Jayme is getting on base and stealing, Jessica with her clutch hitting and Michelle has been hitting the ball as well as she has all season. They've provided us with some great support and we're going to continue to need it."

With the sweep, Lewis improves to 27-22 overall and 19-15 in GLVC action. The Flyers have won 11 out of their last 12 contests. Kentucky Wesleyan falls to 16-30 on the campaign and 11-23 in conference play.

In the opener, Vucsko and Rourke combined to go 6-for-7 with six RBI and three runs scored to lift the Flyer offense. Vucsko was 4-for-4 with four RBI, including a solo home run, while Rourke was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Freshman pitcher Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) helped her own cause at the plate, as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

In the circle, Brems (9-11) was equally as effective, as she allowed one run and five hits while fanning five Panthers. Her counterpart Ashlee Winstead (8-15) took the loss for KWC, as she surrendered seven hits and seven runs in 3.1 innings of work.

In game two, Kentucky Wesleyan jumped out to a 4-1 lead over the Flyers following the third inning. Lewis, however, scored six unanswered runs to take a 7-4 lead over the Panthers. Rourke provided the crushing blow for the Flyers in the bottom of the sixth inning, as she cleared the bases with a three-run double off of losing pitcher Jordan Vertz (4-9).

Kentucky Wesleyan staged a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, as they tagged reliever Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) for two runs to cut Lewis' lead to 7-6. Habel (7-8), however, induced Winstead into a groundout and struck out Josalyn Ress to end the game. Habel allowed two runs and seven hits in 3.1 innings of work while striking out six batters.

Lewis returns to action on Sunday (Apr. 22), as the Flyers head to Evansville, Ind., to square off with Southern Indiana for a 12 p.m. doubleheader. If the Flyers win at least one game against the Screaming Eagles, they will have clinched a berth in the upcoming GLVC Softball Tournament in East Peoria, Ill.