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Clermont, Fla. - Lewis University senior pitcher
Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) was nearly flawless.
Bowler allowed no runs and surrendered just three hits in nine innings pitched, as she earned both victories against Walsh (1-0) and Notre Dame College (4-1) at the NTC Complex on Monday (March 2) afternoon.
"Kelly pitched really well today and I thought we played very good defense behind her as well," Lewis head softball coach
Becky Pearl said.
With the win, Lewis extends its winning streak to four games and improves to 5-2 on the campaign. Walsh drops to 3-1 on the season, while Notre Dame College is 0-4.
In the opener against Walsh, the Flyers scored the lone run of the game in the first inning on a RBI single by freshman third baseman
Sarah DeMasi (Lockport, Ill./Lockport).
That was all that Bowler (5-0) would need.
Bowler went the distance and claimed the complete-game, three-hit shutout while striking out a season-high 10 batters.
Lewis senior first baseman
Kelsey Ullrich (Winfield, Ill./Wheaton North) collected two hits, including a double, in the win over Walsh.
"I would have liked to have scored more than one run in the opener, but I'm glad we jumped out and scored right away against Walsh," Pearl said.
Bowler needed some help in the nightcap in game two, as she entered the game in the sixth inning with the score tied at 1-apiece.
Junior second baseman
Frankie Castagna (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle) provided the aid for Bowler, as she ripped a two-run triple in the top of the seventh to push the Flyers ahead, 3-1. Sophomore shortstop
Carly Jaworski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) plated Castagna with a RBI single, giving Bowler an insurance run to work with. Jaworski went 2-for-4 with a RBI.
Notre Dame put two runners on with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Bowler induced two Falcon pop-ups to end the game.
Bowler, who came on in relief of sophomore pitcher
Lainie Schweickert (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy), struck out three batters and did not allow a hit in two innings of work to pick up the win.
"I was proud of how we perservered today and came through when we really needed it in the seventh," Pearl said. "All in all, I thought we did a nice job for our first time playing on the dirt this season."
Lewis returns to action on Tuesday (March 3), as the Flyers and Ashland square off for a regional doubleheader beginning at 9 AM ET.