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Rensselaer, Ind. – Lewis University senior Alex Slaby (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport West) had the game winning hit in the bottom of the ninth in the second game to help the baseball team swept its Monday (March 31) doubleheader against Saint Joseph's with a 12-11 victory following a 5-3 win in the first game at Gil Hodges Field.
 
The Flyers improve to 13-10 on the season and 6-4 in Great Lakes Valley Conference action while the Pumas fall to 9-16 on the year and 4-8 in the league.
 
In the second game, the Flyers took an 11-8 lead to the ninth, but saw their lead slip away as the Pumas plated three runs in the top of the inning on two hits and two errors.
 
Senior Drew Buddle (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) reached first after getting hit by a pitch to open the ninth. He stole second and advanced to third on a ground out by sophomore Joel Rotkvich (Crestwood, Ill./St. Laurence) before crossing the plate on Slaby's single.
                                                    
The Flyers posted six runs in the first inning, capped off with a three-run home run by sophomore Cale Robinson (Weldon, Ill./Clinton). Lewis added a single run in the fifth inning when Buddle singled home sophomore Austin Mastela (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) from third.
 
The Pumas broke up the shutout in the top of the sixth when they scored two runs on back-to-back singles. Saint Joseph's put up three runs in the seventh, to get within 7-5, on a three-run home run by Joshua Headzik to left field.
 
Lewis answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to go up 10-5 on five hits and two Puma miscues. Sophomore Joe Sparacio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central), junior Mike Barajas (Chicago, Ill./Nazareth) and Buddle each collected an RBI in the inning for the Flyers.
 
Lewis reliever Dylan Cysewski (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) got the win after collecting the third out of the ninth inning with a strike out. Cysewski is now 1-0 on the season.
 
Saint Joseph's Robert Kametas (0-1) was credited with the loss after allowing one hit and hitting a batter in the ninth.
 
In the first game, the Flyers broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning when Mastella singled in Barajas and senior Jake Murray (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) to take a 2-0 lead. Barajas led off the inning with a single while Murray drew a walk.
 
The Flyers added to their lead in the fifth inning when Barajas doubled in Slaby, after he reached on a single and advanced to second on an error. Murray traded places with Barajas in the next at-bat to give Lewis a 4-0 lead.
 
Saint Joseph's Handzik homered to left in the top of the sixth to break up the shutout.
 
Lewis answered with a run in the bottom of the frame when Mastela scored on a single by Buddle.
 
The Pumas threatened in the top of the seventh, when they scored two runs on two hits but Lewis starter Sam Couch (Bolingbrook, Ill./Joliet Catholic) was able to get out of the inning with the win. Couch (5-0) collected the complete game win, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking one.
 
Saint Joseph's Brian Bayliss (3-1) took the loss giving up four runs on six hits in 4.2 innings of work. Bayliss also walked and struck out three.
 
"Any time you can take three of four in the conference you have to be happy about that," Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough said. "We got a solid outing from Sam in the first game while we had to grind out the win in the second game as we missed too many opportunities to score."
 
The Flyers return to action on Tuesday (April 1) when they take on UW-Parkside at Brennan Field. First pitch of the GLVC doubleheader is set for 2 PM.