ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - The Lewis University baseball team split a home doubleheader with Truman State Friday (May 3) in Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Brennan Field. The Flyers moved to 26-22 overall, 18-14 in the GLVC, while the Bulldogs are 7-33, 7-25.

"We just didn't make enough hard contact today to put pressure on Truman's defense," Lewis baseball coach Tim McDonough said.

Game 1: Lewis 5 Truman State 2
The Flyers scored five runs in the first four innings and were able to hold on for the win. They scored twice in the first inning when Connor Rutherford (DePere, Wis./DePere) doubled down the right field line to drive in a run. Ryan Schefske (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) then drove home Rutherford with a single up the middle. 

Rutherford added to the lead in the third inning with a RBI single to right field. Lewis then scored two more times in the fourth inning. Michael O'Brien (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic) doubled to left field to score a run and then Anthony Cavalieri (Western Springs, Ill./Fenwick) singled to center to drive home O'Brien as the Flyers took a 5-0 lead.

Truman scored twice in the seventh on a single and a fielding error. The Bulldogs rallied in the top of the ninth, putting runners on first and second with one out, but Robert Talarico (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) came in and got the final two outs to close out the game.

Cavalieri, Rutherford and Anthony Rios (Lemont, Ill./St. Laurence) all had two hits to lead the Flyers offensively. Pete Hamot (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) (5-2) earned the win, going six innings, allowing three hits, striking out eight batters, walking four. Ryan Ward (Hanover Park, Ill./Hoffman Estates) went 2.1 innings in relief with one earned run, while Talarico picked up his fourth save of the year. Connor McKenna (0-9) took the loss.

Game 2: Truman State 5 Lewis 3
Truman opened the scoring with runs in the first and second innings. The Flyers came back with a run in the second as Cavalieri drove in a run on a RBI groundout to second. They evened the score in the fourth when Matt Verdun (Homer Glen, Ill./St. Rita) singed to third base to score a run. They then took the lead in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly to left field from Rios.

However, the Bulldogs responded with three runs in the top of the seventh to regain a two-run advantage at 5-3 and held the Flyers scoreless the remainder of the game.

Mason Hatch (1-10) picked up the win, going seven innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs. Caleb Buehrle pitched two shutout innings for his second save of the year. Blake Marks (Gardner, Ill./Gardner-South Wilmington) went 5.2 innings, allowing four hits and one earned run, striking out five to get the no decision. Talarico (2-3) suffered the loss in one inning of work. Jake Lotz (Palos Hills, Ill./St. Laurence) pitched two scoreless innings in relief. Dalton Crowder (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) went 2-for-3 at the plate.

The two teams will square off Saturday (May 4) at 12:30 p.m. for the final game of the regular season. It will also be Senior Day for the Flyers.

"We have a great opportunity tomorrow to come out and win a series on Senior Day," McDonough said.