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Louisville, Ky. - Both the Lewis University and Bellarmine University softball teams took advantage of each others mistakes, as the Knights scored on a walk-off error in Game One to win 1-0, while the Flyers recorded four unearned runs off of four BU errors to take the nightcap, 7-1, in a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader at Knights Field on Saturday (April 12) afternoon.
With the split, Lewis is 19-14 overall and 10-8 in GLVC action, while the host Knights are 25-11 on the season and 13-5 in conference play.
In the opener, both teams were scoreless through 6.5 innings, but Lewis starting pitcher
Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) issued a walk to BU pinch hitter Lillie Nitzken to lead off the seventh. Bellarmine second baseman Kelly Ely laid down a sacrifice bunt to move pinch runner Kayla Padgett over to second base, but Flyer second baseman
Frankie Castagna (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle) dropped the throw at first base. That allowed Ely to reach safely and Padgett advanced to third on the play.
Bellarmine designated player Rachel Fox then grounded to Flyer shortstop
Carly Jaworski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont). Jaworski threw home to get Padgett at the plate, but Lewis catcher
Brittany Russell (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East) dropped the ball, allowing the winning run.
Bowler (12-8) took the loss for the Flyers, allowing one unearned run and just three hits while striking out five batters. Bellarmine pitcher Ally Foster (16-2) scattered seven hits and struck out 13 Flyers and stranded 12 runners on the basepaths to earn the win.
Castagna and freshman right fielder
Jenna Cairo (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) both went 2-for-3 off of Foster.
In the nightcap, the Flyers scored six unanswered runs and never looked back in the 7-1 win. Lewis freshman catcher
Sarah DeMasi (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while senior center fielder
Justina Doll (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) was 3-for-4 with a RBI. Flyer first baseman
Kelsey Ullrich (Winfield, Ill./Wheaton North) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Castagna was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Jaworski connected for a solo home run in the third inning, her fourth round-tripper of the campaign.
Lewis starting pitcher
Lainie Schweickert (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy) won her fifth-straight decision. Schweickert (7-6) picked up the complete-game victory, allowing one run and six hits while fanning nine BU batters. Her counterpart Alicia Miller (8-6) was the losing pitcher, as she surrendered five runs - only one earned - and five hits in two innings pitched.
"We battled against a very good pitcher in the first game, but we couldn't get the big hit that we needed and made some mistakes in the seventh that ultimately cost us the game," Lewis head softball coach
Becky Pearl said. "I do, however, like how we responded in the second game and took advantage of the mistakes that Bellarmine made."
Lewis is back in action on Sunday (April 12), as the Flyers travel to Evansville, Indiana for a 12 PM doubleheader against No. 16 Southern Indiana.