SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Lewis baseball team recorded their second consecutive split with Illinois Springfield on Saturday (April 9) afternoon. The Flyers were edged 3-2 in game one before bouncing back in game two for a 9-5 win. Lewis was the home team in both games after the contests were moved due to weather.

Game One – UIS 3, Lewis 2 (HTML Box | PDF Box)
For the second time in as many games, a Lewis starting pitcher recorded 10 strikeouts. On Saturday it was junior Sam Couch (Bolingbrook, Ill./Joliet Catholic) fanning 10 Prairie Stars in the seven-inning doubleheader opener. Couch allowed three runs (two earned) in seven innings and earned the loss to drop his record to 0-2. UIS scored the game-winning run in the sixth on a solo home run by Trey Hannam.

The Flyers had their share of base runners, but stranded 10 men.

Max Biedrzycki went six innings for the win for UIS. He is 2-1. Richard England entered in the seventh. Lewis put runners on first and third with two outs, but England worked a ground ball to end the game and earn his fifth save.
 
Game Two – Lewis 9, UIS 5 (HTML Box | PDF Box)
The fourth and final game of the series felt like Friday's pair of contests with no lead seeming safe for either squad. That was until the bottom of the sixth. Lewis loaded the bases with no outs and scored four times to take an 8-5 lead. The Flyers' four spot came just after UIS grabbed a 5-4 lead.

The Prairie Stars' attempt to rally was thwarted by freshman Pete Hamot (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South). The newcomer retired all nine batters he faced over the final three innings to earn his first save of his career.

Junior Brandon Collins (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way North) and sophomore Neal Tyrell (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) each knocked in two runs. Tyrell had three hits and a run scored. Senior Chris Pikoulas (Frankfort, Ill./Carl Sandburg) went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a walk.

Junior Brad Elmore (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) entered in the top of the sixth and earned the final out. He picked up the win to move his record to 2-0. Matt Farrington took the loss for UIS, he is 1-6

The Flyers are now 17-10 (7-5 GLVC). UIS is 14-14 (6-6 GLVC). Lewis is back in action on Thursday (April 14) in a non-conference contest vs. Saint Xavier at Brennan Field. First pitch against the Cougars is set for 7 p.m.