Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 GM 1 Box Score (HTML) / GM 2 Box Score (HTML)

Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University baseball team recorded 22 hits in their Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader against Bellarmine, but managed only four runs as the visiting Knights earned the 5-0, 7-4 sweep over the Flyers at Brennan Field on Sunday (April 5) afternoon.

With the sweep, Bellarmine improves to 16-12 overall and 10-8 in GLVC action, while the host Flyers fall to 10-16 on the campaign and 6-12 in conference play.

The opening game was scoreless for the first 3.5 innings, before Bellarmine center fielder Austin Crutcher opened the inning with a solo home run off of Lewis starting pitcher Eann Cox (Erie, Ill./Erie)  to give the Knights a 1-0 advantage. Bellarmine would manage two more runs in the frame on a RBI ground out by catcher Christopher Allen and a sacrifice fly from designated hitter Griffin Neuer.

Neuer would later add a two-run homer in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach for the Flyers.

Cox (4-2) allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings of work, while fanning five batters. BU starting pitcher Eddie Mathis earned the complete-game, eight-hit shutout, including five strikeouts.

Lewis right fielder Austin Mastela (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) and designated hitter Ethan Bloom (Schaumburg, Ill./Hoffman Estates) each went 2-for-3 to lead the Flyers offensively.

"When you don't score runs, it's hard to win," Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough said. "I thought Eann threw the ball real well and I thought we took some good swings against (Mathis), but we didn't get any clutch two-out hits or string anything together."

In the nightcap, the Flyers jumped ahead 3-0 in the third inning on a sacrifice fly from first baseman Joe Sparacio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) and a RBI double from Mastela.

The Knights, however, responded with seven unanswered runs off of Lewis starting pitcher Ryan Fox (Dayton, Ohio/Centerville) to secure the win. Bellarmine first baseman Nick Wright led the charge for the Knight offense, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

Bellarmine also received three hits apiece from both third baseman Cole Metcalfe (3-for-5, RBI) and right fielder Phillip Leopold (3-for-4, run).

Fox (2-4) allowed seven runs and 12 hits in 4.2 innings of work, while striking out three batters. Bellarmine starting pitcher Zach Williams surrendered three runs - two earned - and nine hits in seven innings, while fanning three Flyers.

Lewis freshman Neal Tyrell (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) went 3-for-5 and scored a run to pace the Flyers' offense in game two. Senior center fielder Kane Lombardo (Forest Park, Ill./Nazareth), junior shortstop Joel Rotkvich (Crestwood, Ill./St. Laurence), Mastela (2 RBI) and Bloom each notched two hits in the loss.

"I thought that Ryan didn't have his best stuff today," McDonough said. "We ran ourselves out of some innings on the bases, but we got back in it and had the go-ahead run on deck in the ninth inning and that's all you can ask for."

Lewis returns to action on Wednesday (April 8), as the Flyers host St. Xavier for a 4 PM first pitch at Brennan Field.