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Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University softball team extended its winning streak to seven and clinched a berth in the 2014 GLVC Softball Tournament with a 1-0, 10-3 doubleheader sweep over McKendree at the Lewis Softball Field on Saturday (Apr. 26) afternoon.

With the sweep, Lewis improves to 22-21 on the season and 16-14 in conference action, while the visiting Bearcats drop to 17-29 on the campaign and 10-22 in GLVC play. The Flyers have won 12 of their last 13 contests and are over .500 for the first time this season.

"Three weeks ago, we challenged our team to win 13 out of our next 16 games," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "We've reached our 'magic' number and that's a great testament to what our players have done."

In the opener, Lewis junior pitcher Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) twirled a complete-game, six-hit shutout while fanning a season-high nine batters. Brems (5-2) stranded 10 runners on base, seven of which were left in scoring position.

Her counterpart Kelsie Stoszkus (7-9) was equally up to the task, as both teams battled to a scoreless tie after six innings. That all changed in the seventh, as freshman pinch hitter Chase Machain (Chicago, Ill./Trinity) roped a leadoff double to open the frame. Flyer center fielder Dani Knaak (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) sacrificed pinch runner Frankie Castagna (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle) over to third base, setting the table for sophomore Nicole Kappelman (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central).

Kappelman sent a Stoszkus offering past the outstretched arms of McK third baseman Hanna Branch for the walk-off single. Stoszkus allowed one run and five hits in 6.2 innings of work.

The Flyers were aided in the nightcap by five McKendree errors that led to seven unearned runs. The trio of sophomore right fielder Brittany Russell (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East), freshman shorstop Carly Jaworski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) and senior third baseman Alyssa Moseley (Crown Point, Ind./Andrean) went a combined 6-for-9 with four RBI and four runs scored at the dish.

Russell was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, while Jaworski was 2-for-3 with a RBI double and a run. Moseley went 2-for-3, including a two-run homer - her first of the season - in a four-run first inning for the Flyers.

Lewis junior pitcher Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) won her eighth-straight decision in the circle for the Flyers. Bowler (13-9) allowed three runs and four hits, while striking out five batters in the complete-game victory.

McKendree starting pitcher Susan Goetze (4-8) did not get out of the first, as she surrendered four runs and one hit in 0.2 innings pitched.

The Flyers return to action on Sunday (Apr. 27), as they welcome Illinois Springfield to the Lewis Softball Field for a 12 PM doubleheader.