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Owensboro, Ky. - The Lewis University softball team remained undefeated in Great Lakes Valley Conference play, as the sophomore pitching tandem of Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) and Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) held Kentucky Wesleyan to six hits as the visiting Flyers claimed the 4-0, 2-1 doubleheader sweep over the Panthers at Foster Field on Saturday afternoon.

In the opener, Bowler (4-3) claimed the complete-game, two-hit victory while striking out eight batters. She also struck out four batters in 1.2 innings of relief of Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) in the nightcap to earn the save. Brems (3-2) earned the victory in game two, surrendering one run and four hits in 5.1 innings of work, while fanning two.

Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo knew that earning two wins over Kentucky Wesleyan would be no easy task.

"The sweep is huge," DiMatteo said. "This was a very good win over an incredibly tough Kentucky Wesleyan team. To come away with no losses definitely helps separate us from the rest of the teams in the GLVC East."

With the sweep, Lewis improves to 7-5 on the season and 4-0 in GLVC action, while the host Panthers drop to 6-13 overall and 4-6 in conference play.

Bowler was dominant from the get-go in the opener as she allowed a lead-off bunt single to begin the game and retired the next 18 batters before surrendering her second hit in the seventh inning. Her counterpart, Ashlee Winstead (3-8), took the complete-game loss, as she surrendered four runs, only one earned, allowing seven hits and striking out four batters.

Offensively, Lewis senior shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) paced the Flyer offensive attack, as she went 2-for-3 with two hits, including a solo home run - her first of the season. Lewis senior right fielder Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) pitched in two hits, including a RBI double in the fifth inning.

In the second game, the contest was scoreless through five innings before Lewis put runners on first and second with no outs in the sixth. Hanford moved the runners over a base with a sacrifice bunt before Brems and senior designated player Alexis Munaco (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) plated both of them with consecutive RBI groundouts.

Brems struggled in the bottom half of the sixth, as KWC loaded the bases with one out, before Clarissa Smith cut Lewis' lead to 2-1 with a RBI single. DiMatteo brought in Bowler who struck out the next two batters to thwart the Panther rally.

KWC starting pitcher Josalyn Ress (3-5) took the loss for the Panthers, allowing two runs and four hits in seven innings of work, while striking out seven Flyer batters.

Lewis returns to action on Sunday (March 24), as the Flyers head to Evansville, Ind., to meet Southern Indiana for a 12 PM doubleheader.