SPRINGFIELD, Mo.   – Lewis baseball opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Sunday (March 15) with a split at defending conference champion Drury. The Flyers fell in game one 15-3 before notching a 10-2 win in game two at Meador Park.
 
Game One: Drury 15, Lewis 3 (HTML Box / PDF Box)
Lewis was first on the board in game one second inning. Junior Kurt Becker (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) doubled to start the frame and junior Cory Starnes (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) knocked him in. Drury struck back with six runs in the third. The big hit was a grand slam by Tyler Arthur.

Drury added two more in the fifth and then really opened it up thanks to a seven spot in the sixth.

Lewis starter Tom Helwich (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way Central) took the loss to drop his record to 0-2. He allowed 10 hits and eight runs (six earned) in 4.2 innings with four strikeouts. Drury starter Trevor Richards earned the win. He is 1-2 after giving up one run on six hits in 6.0 innings.

"We didn't play with the energy needed to and a good team like Drury will take advantage," Lewis head coach Tim McDonough said.

Becker and freshman Neal Tyrell (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) each had two hits for Lewis.

Game Two: Lewis 10, Drury 2 (HTML Box / PDF Box)
Lewis flipped the script in game two. Senior starter Eann Cox (Erie, Ill./Erie) allowed one hit and no runs through the first six innings. In the seventh he gave up two runs on two hits but earned the final three outs to get the seven-inning complete game. Cox moved his record to 3-0 after striking out 10 Panthers.  

Drury starter Austin Faulconer lasted only 3.1 innings, with Lewis scoring eight runs on the senior starter. Faulconer took the loss to drop his mark to 1-2.

"I was really proud of how we bounced back," McDonough said. "Energy was great from pitch one and the team really put game one behind them. Eann was fantastic and set the tone for us early. Offensively our guys did a great job against Faulconer and we were able to string a couple of great innings together."

Senior Mike Barajas (Chicago, Ill./Nazareth) had three hits and scored three times while knocking in a run.

The Flyers put up four runs in the third and then another four runs in the fourth to take control of the game. Junior catcher Cale Robinson (Weldon, Ill./Clinton) reached base to leadoff both innings. He eventually scored in both frames, as did senior Kane Lombardo (Forest Park, Ill./Nazareth).

Drury falls to 4-6 (1-1 GLVC) after the game two loss. Lewis improves to 5-5 (1-1 GLVC).

Lewis continues their series with Drury on Monday (March 16). First pitch in the doubleheader with the Panthers is set for noon CT.