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Lebanon, Ill. - Fighting off a painful bruise on her throwing hand, Lewis University junior pitcher Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) earned two victories and held McKendree to five hits in 11 innings of work, as the Flyer softball team claimed the 7-5, 8-0 (5 inn.) Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader sweep over McKendree at Bearcat Field on Sunday (March 23) afternoon.

"Kudos to Bowler for offering to pitch in both games today," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "I have to give credit to our pitching coach Sara Somogyi for restricting (Kelly) to throwing just three pitches today to keep her pain to a minimum.

"Kelly truly put forth a heroic effort."

In the opener, Bowler (5-4) allowed just one hit and struck out two batters while giving up five unearned runs. Bowler came on in relief of Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) in the nightcap, limiting McK to four hits in four innings and added six strikeouts.

With the sweep, Lewis improves to 9-12 on the season and 3-5 in conference play, while the host Bearcats drop to 8-13 on the campiagn and 3-7 in GLVC action.

"We were able to capitalize on our opponents' mistakes today and we were able to come away with two big conference wins," DiMatteo said.

In the opener, Lewis jumped out to a 6-0 lead behind a pair of RBI by freshman second baseman Carolyn Nojiri (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) and Brems. Nojiri scored two on a squeeze bunt and a fielders choice, while Brems had a two-run single in the fourth inning.

McKendree answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning without the benefit of a hit, as the Bearcats took advantage of three Flyer errors and four walks to cut Lewis' lead to 6-5.

Lewis junior first baseman Kelsey Ullrich (Winfield, Ill./Wheaton North) helped the Flyers tack on an insurance run with her second RBI single of the afternoon in the top of the seventh inning. Ullrich was 3-for-4 with two RBI to pace the Flyers, while sophomore catcher Kimmy Teats (Erie, Ill./Erie-Prophetstown) collected two hits and scored a pair of runs.

McKendree starting pitcher Taylor Barnouski (1-3) took the loss for the Bearcats, allowing five runs and six hits in four innings.

Game two was all Flyers, as they jumped out to an 8-0 lead after three and a half innings. Freshman center fielder Dani Knaak (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), freshman shortstop Carly Jaworski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) and sophomore right fielder Nicole Kappelman (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) each collected two RBI in the victory. Kappelman added two htis and scored a run, while Teats went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

McKendree starting pitcher Kelsie Stoszkus (4-4) was tagged with the loss in the nightcap, allowing eight runs and 10 hits in five innings of work.

Lewis returns to action on Wednesday (March 26), as the Flyers take on Ferris State in a regional doubleheader in Big Rapids, Michigan. First pitch is scheduled for 3 PM ET.