CLERMONT, Fla. – Lewis' softball team snapped its five-game losing streak with a pair of wins on Sunday at the Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. The Flyers defeated Bemidji State 11-6 in their first game and then defeated Dominican (N.Y.) 6-3 in their second game of the day. With the wins, Lewis improves to 4-8 on the season.
Game 1 – Lewis 11 Bemidji State 6
The Flyers got three extra base hits to score a pair of runs in the top of the first against the Beavers.
Maddy Beck (Racine, Wis./Case) started the inning with a one out triple to right. She came into score on
Cassie Shaw's (Moline, Ill./Moline) double to left.
Kristin Kavalauskas (Oak Forest, Ill./Tinley Park) made it 2-0 doubling to left center to bring in Shaw.
BSU (6-4) answered Lewis' two runs with a four spot in the bottom of the inning. It scored four runs on four hits getting RBI singles from Olivia Tucker and Megan Castor while Lexi Derrick picked up an RBI with a bases loaded walk and Sami Trana drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center.
The Flyers came right back scoring five times in the top of the second. Beck drove home the first two runs with a double to right center scoring
Elexis Swartzentruber (Normal, Ill./Normal Community) and
Sara Serena (Kankakee, Ill./Kankakee).
Cierra Taylor (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) made it 5-4 with a sacrifice fly to right and Shaw blasted a two-run home run to put Lewis in front 7-4.
The Beavers got a run in the fourth to cut the lead to two but the Flyers got that run back with a run in the sixth and then put the game away scoring three times in the seventh. Lewis got home runs in the seventh from Taylor (solo) and Kavalauskas (two-run) to make it 11-5.
Bemidji added a run in its half of the seventh for the final tally.
Seven of the Flyers 13 hits went for extra bases with three doubles, three home runs and a triple. Shaw and Kavalauskas combined go 6-for-8 at the plate with six RBIs and three runs scored. Beck added two hits and two RBIs.
Dara Sanders (Crestwood, Ill./Mother McAuley) picked up the win in relief allowing two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and four walks.
Game 2 – Lewis 6 Dominican (N.Y.) 3
The Flyers picked up where they left off in game one scoring three times in the bottom of the first. Taylor opened the scoring hitting a two-run home run to left and then later in the inning Kavalauskas scored on an error.
Lewis extended its lead with two more runs in the third. With one out, Shaw doubled down the left field line and then went to third on Kavalauskas single to right. With two out, Kavalauskas stole second and then Swartzentruber drove in both runs with a single to left.
The Flyers tacked on an unearned run in the sixth for their final tally.
The Chargers (1-3) made things interesting in the seventh scoring three runs on two hits and an error but it wouldn't be enough as Lewis held on for the victory.
Morgan Weber (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) led the Lewis attack recording two of their seven hits in the contest. Serena picked up the win in the circle allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits with two strikeouts and four walks. She took a no-hitter into the seventh. Alyssa Siess broke up the no-no with a double to left leading off the inning.
The Flyers are back in action on Monday as they take on Winona State at 10:45 a.m. (CT) and Ferris State at 1 p.m. (CT).
