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Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University softball team is back in the thick of the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament mix, as the Flyers defeated UW-Parkside three times, 5-1 (11 inn.), 4-2 and 7-5, at the Lewis Softball Field on Tuesday (Apr. 22) afternoon. The extra-inning affair was the completion of a suspended contest from last Wednesday.

"It was a long day, but these three wins are huge for us," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "It puts us right back in the race.

"The ball is now in our court and we control our own destiny for the GLVC Tournament."

With the sweep, Lewis improves to 20-21 overall and 14-14 in conference play, while the visiting Rangers are now 6-28 on the campaign and 5-21 in GLVC action. The Flyers currently sit in third place in the GLVC East Division.

The suspended game began in the eighth inning and remained tied at one, until the top of the 11th, as freshman shortstop Carly Jaworski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) led off the frame with a solo homer over the center field wall off of UW-Parkside pitcher Kristen Kleinmeyer. Jaworski went 2-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored to lead the Flyers offensively.

Lewis tacked on three more insurance runs, highlighted by a RBI double by junior designated player Gianna Coduti (Melrose Park, Ill./Trinity) and a RBI triple by freshman second baseman Carolyn Nojiri (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North).

Lewis starting pitcher Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) tossed all 11 innings to earn the complete-game win. Bowler (12-9) allowed one run and scattered 10 hits, while fanning five batters. Kleinmeyer (2-6) took the loss for the Rangers, giving up five runs and nine hits, while striking out five.

Bowler took the ball again in the opening game of the scheduled doubleheader and picked up where she left off. The Lockport, Ill., native scattered two runs on six hits and struck out three to earn her second victory of the day.

She was the beneficiary of more late-game heroics, as sophomore right fielder Brittany Russell (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East) broke a 2-all tie in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run triple. Russell went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored to pace the Flyer offensive attack. The Flyers also received a pair of hits from both junior first baseman Kelsey Ullrich (Winfield, Ill./Wheaton North) and freshman center fielder Dani Knaak (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), while junior designated player Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) pitched in two RBI.

In the nightcap, Russell (2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 runs) sparked the Flyers again with a two-run single in the second inning to give Lewis a 4-1 advantage. The Flyers would extend that lead to 6-3 and hold off a late Ranger surge for the 7-5 win. Sophomore outfielder Nicole Kappelman (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) and freshman first baseman Chase Machain (Chicago, Ill./Trinity) both roped a pair of base hits for the Flyers in game two.

In all, eight different players recorded at least one hit for Lewis in game two, with the top of the Flyer line-up going 5-for-8 with four RBI and three runs scored.

Brems (4-2) picked up the victory in the circle for the Flyers, giving up three runs and four hits, while striking out four batters in five innings. Bowler earned her second save of the season despite giving up two runs and two hits in two innings of work. Kleinmeyer was hung with her second loss of the afternoon, allowing seven runs - five earned - and 11 hits in six innings. 

The Flyers return to action on Saturday (Apr. 26), as they welcome McKendree to the Lewis Softball Field for a 12 PM doubleheader.