Box Score
Winter Haven, Fla. – Behind a strong seven-inning outing on the mound from freshman Sam Couch (Bolingbrook, Ill./Joliet Catholic), the Lewis University baseball team relaxed at the plate to collect an eight-inning rain-shortened 6-3 victory over Ashland on Thursday (March 6).
 
The Flyers improve to 5-4 on the year while Ashland falls to 5-4 on the season.
 
"Sam pitched great in his first collegiate start," Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough said. "He kept the Ashland batters off balance and his performance was a big boost to the team."
 
The Flyers got on the board in the third inning, as senior Jake Murray (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) legged out a double to score senior Alex Slaby (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport West). Senior Kyle Kapka (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect) picked up his first of two RBI of the game in the inning as senior Drew Buddle (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) crossed home plate on Kapka's base hit. Junior Mike Barajas (Chicago, Ill./Nazareth) drew a walk to force in Murray to push the Flyers lead to 3-0.
 
Lewis tallied their fourth run in the fourth as Kapka collected his second RBI of the game.
 
In the fifth, the Flyers scored two more runs to up their lead to 6-0 as Barajas and sophomore Joel Rotkvich (Crestwood, Ill./St. Laurence) crossed the plate.
 
Ashland tallied a single run in the bottom of the fifth and added two runs in their half of the seventh.
 
"Today was one of the most complete games we have played this season," McDonough said. "We had strong pitching, got runs early and we were solid defensively."
 
The Flyers next take on Wayne State for two on Friday (March 7) in Winter Haven, Fla., starting at 12 PM ET.