ROSEMONT, Ill. – Lewis University's softball team scored nine unanswered runs to rally from an early deficit and defeat Lindenwood 9-2 on Sunday at The Dome at the Ballpark in Rosemont, Ill. The Flyers (3-4) had 12 hits in the contest.
The Lions (4-5) struck first scoring two runs in the top of the first. Stormee Galka and Adele Linderman led off the game with back-to-back doubles. Later in the inning Austine Pauley drove in Linderman with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Lindenwood had a chance to add to its lead in the third but
Emily Guske (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) gunned down Hanna Porter at the plate for the final out of the inning.
Lewis (3-4) scored three times in its half of the third to take the lead.
Kendyl Strack (Genoa, Ill./Genoa-Kingston) led off the inning with a ground-rule double to right and moved to third on a sacrifice from
Alise Perna (Naperville, Ill./Metea Valley). Guske drove in Strack with an infield single to cut the lead to 2-1.
Sarah DeMasi (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) tied the game with a triple to left center then
Kaylee Prieto (Chicago, Ill./Marist) put the Flyers ahead with a triple to center field.
Lewis added to its lead in the fourth. With one out,
Jessica Lofthouse (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) singled down the left field line and moved to third on Strack's ground-rule double down the left field line. Perna drove in Lofthouse with a single to right to make it 4-2. Guske reached on an infield single to load the bases. DeMasi brought home Strack with a ground out to second for the second run of the inning.
The Flyers broke the game open in the fifth on Perna's grand slam down the right field line with two outs in the inning.
Guske, DeMasi, Strack and Perna had two hits apiece to lead Lewis. Perna finished with five RBI in the contest.
Taylor Boelte (Rockton, Ill./Hononegah) started for the Flyers going the first two innings allowing two runs on four hits.
Dara Sanders (Crestwood, Ill./Mother McAuley) earned the win in relief pitching two scoreless innings to improve to 2-1.
Cassie Shaw (Moline, Ill./Moline) picked up her first save of the season going the final three innings.
Lewis returns to the diamond next Sunday taking on Ferris State at 10:45 am (CST) in Clermont, Fla.
