Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  / Grand Valley State Box Score (PDF) / Wayne St. (Neb.) Box Score (PDF)

Clermont, Fla. - Tuesday was a day of missed opportunities for the Lewis University softball team, as the Flyers left the bases loaded in a 5-3 regional loss to Grand Valley State and were defeated on a two-run, walk-off homer in a 7-5 decision to Wayne State (NE) at the National Training Center Complex.

"We need to close the door when we have our chances," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "We very easily could have been 3-1 or even 4-0 after today.

"We'll just have to figure out a way to learn from this and use that to help us going forward."

With the victories, Grand Valley State improves to 4-1 on the campaign and Wayne State moves to 4-2, while the Flyers drop to 2-2 on the season.

In the opener, GVSU starting pitcher Hannah Santora (3-0) went the distance for the Lakers, as she allowed three runs and nine hits in the complete-game victory. Lewis starting pitcher Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) was tagged with the complete-game loss, as she surrendered five runs, three of which were earned. Bowler struck out five batters on the morning, but gave up solo home runs to both Emily Jones and Miranda Cleary.

Those home runs and two unearned runs keyed the Lakers to a 5-0 seventh-inning advantage over Lewis.

Flyer sophomore designated player Kelsey Ullrich (Winfield, Ill./Wheaton North) led off the seventh with a solo home run over the left field wall. Pinch hitter Alexis Funk (Dyer, Ind./Marian Catholic) followed with a single and pinch runner Justina Doll (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) advanced to second on a one-out, bunt single by senior center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West).

Junior third baseman Jessica Rourke (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) plated Doll with a RBI single, but Hefler (2-for-3) was ruled out for running outside of the baseline, making the score, 5-2, with two outs in the seventh. Grand Valley State then loaded the bases with a two-out walk to senior shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) and plunked senior left fielder Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris).

Lewis senior catcher Alexis Munaco (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) was also hit by a pitch, driving in Rourke from third base, narrowing GVSU's lead to 5-3. Santora, however, induced Flyer first baseman Alyssa Moseley (Crown Point, Ind./Andrean) into a game-ending pop-up.

In the nightcap, Lewis took a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning. Bowler (1-2) retired the first two batters that she faced, before Kelcie Bormann drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She would score the game-tying run on a RBI single to right field by Megan Hagemann.

Wildcat infielder Sam O'Brien ended the game with a two-run, walk-off homer over the left field wall to give Wayne State the 7-5 win over Lewis.

Hefler (RBI), Hanford (RBI), Ullrich, Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) and Gianna Coduti (Melrose Park, Ill./Trinity) each had two hits to lead the Flyers offensively. Brems, who was the starting pitcher for Lewis, allowed six hits and struck out two batters in six innings of work.

Lewis returns to action on Thursday (March 7), as the Flyers take on both Hillsdale (9 AM (ET)) and Dowling (11 AM (ET)).