ROSEMONT, Ill. – Cassie Shaw (Moline, Ill./Moline)'s single with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the eighth lifted the Lewis Flyer softball team to a 7-6 come from behind victory over Findlay for its first win of 2018. The Flyers (1-4) rallied from a two-run deficit in the seventh and a three-run deficit in the eighth for the win.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of sixth. Lewis put runners on the corner with one out and stole a run when
Cierra Taylor (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) got in a rundown trying to steal second which allowed
Kaylee Prieto (Chicago, Ill./Marist) to score the first run of the contest.
The Flyers were one out away from securing the victory in the seventh but Findlay (2-3) loaded the bases on three walks and then Meredith Shepherd lined a single into right to score the tying run. The ball got past
Emily Guske (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) to clear the bases.
Lewis responded with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. They loaded the bases with no one out. Guske singled home a run to make it 3-2 and then Prieto hit a sacrifice fly to left center to score the tying run. Shaw followed with a single to right center but Guske was thrown out at the plate and then Taylor grounded out to send the game to extra innings.
Findlay scored three times in the top of the eighth highlighted by Destinie Keeton's triple. Amanda Delmonte and Sadie Gearhart added RBI singles as well.
In the home half of the eighth, the Flyers loaded the bases with nobody out.
Jessica Lofthouse (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) scored the first run on a wild pitch and then with two outs Guske lined a ground-rule double down the left field line to tie the game.
Sarah DeMasi (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) and Prieto worked back-to-back walks to reload the bases and then Shaw fought off a 0-1 pitch into left center to score Guske with the winning run.
Lewis outhit the Oilers (2-3) 14-8 in the contest. Shaw led the way with three hits while Guske, DeMasi and Weber had two hits each.
Dara Sanders (Crestwood, Ill./Mother McAuley) went the distance allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits with a strikeout and four walks to even her record at 1-1.
The Flyers are back in action on Sunday taking on Lindenwood at 9 a.m. at The Dome at the Ballpark in Rosemont, Ill.
