Springfield, Ill. - Despite scoring 21 runs and collecting 29 hits, the Lewis University baseball team dropped a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference games to the University of Illinois at Springfield, as the host Prairie Stars battled their way to the 13-9, 13-12 doubleheader sweep over the visiting Flyers at the UIS Baseball Field on Saturday (Apr. 8).

With the sweep, UIS improves to 17-12 overall and 7-3 in GLVC action, while the Flyers drop to 6-22 on the campaign and 2-8 in conference play.

Both teams will wrap up its four-game series on Sunday with a 12 PM doubleheader.

GAME ONE
UIS 13, Lewis 9
WP - Howard (5-2); LP - Couch (3-2)
HR - Terry (3), Collins (2), Muench (1), Taylor (10), Harper (2)

UIS broke open a 5-all tie in the fourth inning with seven unanswered runs over the next three frames to take the 13-9 win over the Flyers in the opening game.

Lewis starting pitcher Sam Couch (Bolingbrook, Ill./Joliet Catholic) took the loss for the Flyers, allowing eight runs and 12 hits, while striking out four batters in 4.1 innings of work.

Lewis junior right fielder Jermaine Terry (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) was one of six Flyers with at least two hits, as he went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and a two-run homer.

Flyer senior center fielder Brandon Collins (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way North) went 2-for-5 with three RBI, including a two-run homer, while first baseman Kenny King (Orland Park, Ill./Providence ) collected two hits, drove in a run and scored a run.

Lewis sophomore left fielder Connor Rutherford (DePere, Wis./DePere) and freshman shortstop Ryan Schefske (Lombard, Ill. /Glenbard East) each went 2-for-4 and scored a run, while junior designated hitter Ethan Bloom (Schaumburg, Ill./Hoffman Estates) picked up a pair of base knocks.

GAME TWO
UIS 13, Lewis 12
WP - Lutze (2-0); LP - Manikas (0-3)
HR - Terry (4), Muench (2), Rothmund (14), Hannam (4)

Lewis posted eight runs in the third inning to erase a 7-0 deficit, but the Flyers could not maintain that advantage as UIS answered back with a rally of their own and picked up the 13-12 win in the nightcap.

Flyer reliever George Manikas (Lockport, Ill. /Joliet Catholic) took the loss for Lewis, allowing three runs and five hits in 2.2 innings of work, while fanning three batters.

Lewis junior second baseman Neal Tyrell (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) and Collins combined for six of Lewis' 16 hits. Tyrell went 3-for-4 with four RBI and scored a run, while Collins went 3-for-4 with two runs and a double.

Rutherford was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI - including a RBI triple - and scored a run, while junior third baseman Trayvon Johnson (Berkeley, Ill. /St. Joseph's) went 2-for-4 and scored twice for the Flyers.

King went 2-for-5 and scored a run, while Terry connected for a solo home run and drove in two for Lewis.