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ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University softball held their 2015 home opener on Saturday (March 21) against No. 4 Missouri-St. Louis. The Flyers split the twinbill, winning game one 5-3 (eight innings) and falling in game two 5-3 at the Lewis Softball Field.

Freshman Jenna Cairo (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) won game one for the Flyers with a walk-off two-run home run in the eighth.

Lewis entered the seventh inning up 3-1 after a two-run home run by sophomore Carly Jaworski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) in the sixth. But the Tritons pushed back for a pair in the seventh to tie the game. It could have been worse though. UMSL had the bases loaded and one out before Lewis starter Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) earned a strikeout and a pop up to end the frame. It paved the way for Cairo's heroics in the eighth.

Bowler (10-4) picked up the win after allowing three runs in eight innings. UMSL starter Lainie Schweickert (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy) (2-5) allowed five runs while striking out 15 Flyers in seven plus innings to receive the loss.

In the nightcap, Lewis scored all three runs in the fifth to grab a 3-1 lead. Freshman Alise Perna (Naperville, Ill./Metea Valley) scored on a hit by Cairo to tie the game at one. Lewis took the lead on a two-out two-RBI single by Jaworski. Cairo and junior Brittany Russell (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East) scored on the play.

Lewis held the lead until the top of the seventh when UMSL broke through for four runs.

Sophomore Lainie Schweickert (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy) gave up five runs (four earned) in 7.0 innings while recording 10 strikeouts to suffer the loss and drop her mark to 2-5. Brittini Chapman is now 10-1 for UMSL after allowing three runs (one earned) over 7.0 innings for the win.
 
"You're always looking to take both games but I thought today it was great to see us persevere and lift each other up," Lewis head coach Becky Pearl said. "I loved seeing different people step up which was key in playing two exciting games and picking up the win in game one."

Lewis is now 12-9 on the campaign and 3-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Tritons are now 19-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play.

Lewis hits the field again on Sunday (March 22), as they face Maryville for a doubleheader at 12 PM at the Lewis Softball Field.