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Evansville, Ind. - The Lewis University softball team had a flair for the dramatic against Southern Indiana on Saturday (Apr. 20) afternoon, as they recorded a pair of walk-off hits en route to the 7-6 (11 inn.), 2-1 (8 inn.) doubleheader sweep over the Screaming Eagles at the USI Softball Field.

In the opener, Lewis junior third baseman Jessica Rourke (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) won the game with a RBI single in the bottom of the 11th, while senior shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) (Chicago, Ill./Marist) ended the nightcap with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

"This team never gave up," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said of his Flyers. "It was such a battle of wills, just a back and forth tug of war with Southern Indiana. I'm thrilled because these were two huge games, not just in the conference, but in the regional rankings as well."

With the sweep, Lewis improves to 19-11 overall and 13-5 in GLVC play, while the Screaming Eagles fall to 22-17 on the campaign and 10-14 in conference action.

In the opener, it appeared that Lewis had broke the scoreless game open with a six-run fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run double by senior right fielder Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) (Morris, Ill./Morris) and a two-run home run by sophomore first baseman Kelsey Ullrich (Winfield, Ill./Wheaton North) (Winfield, Ill./Wheaton North).

Southern Indiana, however, responded with six unanswered runs, including a five-run seventh to send the game into extra innings. The big blows from the Screaming Eagles came via a pair of two-run singles by right fielder Jolynn O'Haver and designated player Kelsey Jankowski. Jankowski's game-tying single came on a 0-2 count with two outs.

Four innings later, the Flyers would respond with some two-out, two-strike magic of their own. With runners at first and second, Rourke (2-for-5) took a 2-2 offering from Southern Indiana starting pitcher Brooke Harmening down the left field line to plate Hanford (2-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 runs) for the game-winning run.

Harmening (16-9) took the loss for the Screaming Eagles, allowing seven runs, six earned, and 10 hits in 10.2 innings of work, while fanning six batters. Lewis sophomore hurler Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) improved to 10-6 on the campaign, as she allowed six runs, three earned, and scattered 11 hits in 11 innings while striking out nine Screaming Eagles.

Lewis freshman catcher Kimmy Teats (Erie, Ill./Erie-Prophetstown) (Erie, Ill./Erie-Prophetstown) went 2-for-3 with a double.

In the nightcap, Lewis struck first as senior center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) scored in the opening frame on a throwing error by Southern Indiana catcher MacKenzi Dorsam as she stole third base.

Southern Indiana evened the score up at 1-apiece in the fourth inning on a RBI single by right fielder Kaitlyn England.

The score would remain that way until the eighth inning, when Vucsko (2-for-4) took the first pitch that she saw from USI starting pitcher Sarah Owens (5-7) over the left center field fence for the game-winning home run.

Owens allowed two runs and five hits in 7.1 innings of work. Lewis starting pitcher Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) gave up one run on nine hits, while striking out five Screaming Eagle batters. Brems (9-5) stranded 12 USI runners on base.

Lewis heads to Owensboro, Ky., to square off with Kentucky Wesleyan for a 12 PM doubleheader on Sunday (Apr. 21) afternoon.