ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University's softball team returns to the diamond this weekend as it hosts the fifth annual Lewis Dome Invitational Tournament this Friday-Sunday at The Dome at the Ballpark in Rosemont, Ill. The Flyers (0-2) are one of 12 teams participating in this year's event and there will be 28 games over the three day tournament.
Lewis opened its season two weeks ago dropping a doubleheader to Winona State 3-0 and 2-0 in Rochester, Minn.
Cassie Shaw (Moline, Ill./Moline) led the Flyer offense with three hits in the two games while
Morgan Weber (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland), Sarah Demasi,
Jessica Lofthouse (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) and
Cierra Taylor (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) added a hit each.
In the circle, Shaw allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out five in five innings pitched in the season opener.
Taylor Boelte (Rockton, Ill./Hononegah) followed that up allowing two runs on five hits in six innings pitched in the backend of the doubleheader.
ABOUT ASHLAND: The Eagles open their 2018 season on Friday morning taking on William Jewell at 9 a.m. and then will take on Lewis in the 11 a.m. contest. Last season, Ashland went 30-23 advancing all the way to the championship series in the GLIAC Tournament where it was swept by Saginaw Valley 1-0 and 11-7.
The Eagles return 22 players from last year's squad including three of their top hitters. Dayna Denner, the reigning GLIAC Freshman of the Year, hit .372 with 33 runs scored, 10 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 19 RBIs and 16 stolen bases a season ago. Kylie Asumus hit .317 with eight doubles, 16 RBIs and seven stolen bases and Cassie Haight (.311 average, seven doubles and 21 RBIs).
In the circle, Ashland returns all but one inning in its rotation which includes Paige McMenemy (16-10, four saves, 2.63 earned-run average), Hannah Stroe (11-10, three saves, 2.59 ERA) and Abbie Sgro (3-3, two saves, 3.85 ERA).
ABOUT GRAND VALLEY: The Lakers opened their season last Sunday in Lebanon, Ill., where they were swept 4-2 and 12-5 by McKendree. Grand Valley is coming off a 33-18 season a year ago and advanced to its seventh straight NCAA Tournament and 15
th overall (all since 1999).
Teagan Shomin and Taylor Rieger lead the Lakers with batting averages of .429 and .400 respectively while Kaylie Rhynard and Kelcie LaTour are each hitting .333. Shomin has hit the lone home run so far and has half of the team's RBI total.
Allison Lipovsky and Hannah Beatus each went 0-1 last weekend. Lipovsky started the season opener and allowed four runs on five hits in six innings while striking out 15 in the contest. Beatus allowed six runs on seven hits and walked four in three innings of work.
ABOUT FINDLAY: The Oilers opened their season nearly three weeks ago in Louisville, Ky., coming away with victories over Bellarmine 10-4 and Lincoln Memorial 4-2. Findlay is in its first season as a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference after moving from the Great Lake Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The Oilers have eight players hitting over .300 in their lineup led by Salwa Al-Hajabed who is hitting .500 with a home run and three runs driven in. Meredith Shepherd is hitting .429 with two runs scored and two runs driven in.
Molly Crosby and Hailey Bryan lead the way in the circle combining for a 2-0 record and 0.78 earned-run average. Crosby is averaging a strikeout per inning pitched and is holding opponents to .071 batting average. Bryan has struck out three in five innings pitched and is limiting the opposition to a .238 batting average.
ABOUT WAYNE STATE: The Warriors open their 2018 season against Winona State and Wisconsin-Parkside at 6 and 8 p.m. on Friday evening. Wayne State compiled a 40-16 record a year ago, advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 11
th time in the last 12 seasons, and won an NCAA Midwest Regional title for the third time in the last four years. WSU has made 22 NCAA Tournament appearances since 1982, sixth most in Division II.
The Warriors return 12 players from last year's squad including three-year letterwinners Kristen Lucas (.351 career average), Kylee Barrett (80 career RBI) and Hailey Lazarek (49 starts in 2017).
ABOUT LINDENWOOD: The Lions are 3-1 on the season heading into Friday's game against Wisconsin-Parkside. Lindenwood opened its season splitting a doubleheader with Quincy winning 9-7 and losing 10-2. On Sunday, the Lions defeated Davenport 5-4 and Kentucky Wesleyan 2-0.
Stormee Galka is the top hitter on the team with a .533 batting average and is tied for the team lead in RBIs with Paige Callans at four. Marina Esparza is the top hurler for Lindenwood going 1-0 with a 1.91 ERA in two appearances. Galka is 2-0 with a 5.25 ERA in three appearances.
