Romeoville, Ill. - A walk-off three-run home run by junior center fielder Carolyn Nojiri (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) helped the Lewis University softball team salvage a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader split against Rockhurst at the Lewis Softball Field on Saturday (April 16) afternoon. Rockhurst (17-25, 10-14 GLVC) won the opener, 4-1, while the Flyers rallied from a 5-2 seventh inning deficit to claim the 6-5 win over the Hawks in the nightcap.

"I was proud of how the team came out after (losing the opener)," Lewis head softball coach Becky Pearl said. "We really stuck together and persevered, because we were down late, but we still stuck with the bats."

The Flyers (17-27, 5-19 GLVC) return to action on Sunday (April 17), as they welcome William Jewell to the Lewis Softball Field for a 12 PM doubleheader in the home season finale.

GAME ONE
Rockhurst 4, Lewis 1
Box Score (PDF) / Box Score (HTML)
WP: Greene (8-12); LP: Sanders (4-3)

Rockhurst broke a 1-all tie in the sixth inning as senior center fielder Alex Hill (2-for-2, 3 RBI) connected for a bases loaded double off of Lewis starting pitcher Dara Sanders (Crestwood, Ill./Mother McAuley) to help the visiting Hawks to the 4-1 win over the Flyers in the opener.

Hawks catcher Lexie Zuniga went 3-for-4 and scored a run, while designated player Lauren Cairo collected a pair of singles.

Sanders allowed four runs and eight hits, while striking out four batters in 5.1 innings of work. Rockhurst starting pitcher Shannon Greene went the distance, surrendering one run and six hits.

Lewis senior first baseman Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) topped the Flyers offensively, going 2-for-3, including a RBI single.

GAME TWO
Lewis 6, Rockhurst 5
Box Score (PDF) / Box Score (HTML)
WP: Schweickert (4-9); LP: Greene (8-13)
HR: Boerema (1); Cairo (4); Nojiri (2)

Trailing 5-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Lewis scored four unanswered runs, highlighted by a three-run, walk-off home run by Nojiri to complete the 6-5 comeback over Rockhurst in the nightcap.

Lewis senior designated player Nicole Kappelman (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) reached base on an error to open the seventh and moved over to second on a single by senior Brittany Russell (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East). Kappelman scored on a RBI double by sophomore right fielder Jenna Cairo (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick). Russell and Cairo each scored on Nojiri's towering home run over the center field wall for the victory.

Russell (3-for-3, 2 runs), Cairo (2-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 runs, 2-run HR) and Nojiri (3-for-4, 3 RBI, run, 3-run HR) combined to bat 8-for-11 with five runs and five RBI in the win.

Lewis relief pitcher Lainie Schweickert (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy) allowed one run and five hits while fanning four in five innings pitched to earn the win. Greene took the loss, as she surrendered the three-run homer to Nojiri.