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Rosemont, Ill. - The Lewis University softball team experienced defeat in two very different ways on Sunday (Feb. 23), as the Flyers were blanked 15-0 (5 inn.) by Winona State and lost a three-run lead to Upper Iowa, as the Peacocks claimed the 6-4 (8 inn.) win at the final day of the D2 Midwest Regional Invitational at The Dome at the Ballpark.

With the losses, Lewis is now 0-4 on the season.

Against Winona State, the Warriors blew the game wide open in the bottom of the third inning, as they tagged Lewis starting pitcher Chase Machain (Chicago, Ill./Trinity) and reliever Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) for 11 runs, eight of which were earned.

WSU second baseman Jenny Nelson went 1-for-1 with a three-run homer, four RBI and three runs scored. Warrior left fielder Lexi Perez went 2-for-2, with two runs scored, including a three-run inside-the-park homer.

Machain (0-1) took the loss for the Flyers, allowing eight runs, five earned, with four hits and four walks. Her counterpart Morgan Lintz (1-0) earned the complete-game shutout win, surrendering three hits and striking out one batter.

Against Upper Iowa, Lewis jumped out to a 3-0 lead, highlighted by a two-run double by freshman shortstop Carly Jaworski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) and a RBI groundout by junior center fielder Justina Doll (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein). Jaworski (2-for-2, 2 RBI, run) and Doll (2-for-3, RBI) accounted for four of the Flyers' nine base hits.

The Peacocks, however, rallied with three runs in the top of the fifth inning, on a RBI double by pitcher Jacqueline Flood, infield single by catcher Shelby Crist and a bases loaded walk by Whitney Williams to even the score. All three runs were scored with two outs in the inning.

The momentum continued into extra frames for Upper Iowa, as the Peacocks scored three runs off of losing pitcher Lainie Schweickert (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy) in the eighth inning. Using the international tie-breaker rule, Peacock second baseman Adrienna Olson sacrificed Cheyenne Burnett to third.

Upper Iowa shortstop Katie Mnichowicz sent a comebacker to Schweickert, but her attempt to throw Burnett out at home went past Lewis catcher Kimmy Teats (Erie, Ill./Erie-Prophetstown). Mnichowicz advanced to second on the play and moved over to third on a Riley Kruel (3-for-5, 2 runs) single. Kruel advanced to second on the throw. 

Mnichowicz and Kruel would both score on a pair of Schweickert wild pitches to give Upper Iowa the 6-3 advantage heading into the bottom of the eighth inning.

Lewis would score one run in the eighth on a Brems RBI single, but would come no closer.

Schweickert (0-2) took the loss for the Flyers, allowing three runs, zero earned, and struck out three batters in three innings of work. Upper Iowa reliever Brooke Redmond (0-1) was credited with the victory, allowing one unearned run and two hits in two innings of work.

"Playing against top flight competition, we knew we had to have excellent pitching, tight defense and clutch hitting," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "Unfortunately, our inexperience and lack of confidence hurt us when it mattered most, leading late in games.

"This team is a work in progress and we'll need to go back to the drawing board and find the right formula for success."

The Flyers return to action on March 2nd, as the head to Clermont, Florida to play both Holy Family (9 AM ET) and Georgian Court (11 AM ET) in the Dot Richardson Spring Games.