LIBERTY, Mo. – Lewis' baseball team defeated William Jewell 18-4 in seven innings in the series finale at Talley Stadium on Sunday afternoon in Liberty, Mo. The Flyers improve to 6-4, 2-1 GLVC while the Cardinals fall to 8-6, 1-2 GLVC.

"It was a total team win today," Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough said. "It's great to start GLVC play with a road series win."

Lewis jumped on top in the second on Julian Everett's (Frankfort, Ill/Lincoln Way East) three-run homer to right that scored Joe Preusser (Orland Park, Ill./Brother Rice) and Austin Tittle (Lemont, Ill./Lemont).

William Jewell got a run back in the third on Cameron Fliege's RBI single to center scoring Zach Orso.

The Flyers broke it open in the fifth scoring four runs on one hit and two errors. Angelo Cantelo (Blue Island, Ill./Marian Catholic) drove in a run reaching on a fielder's choice and a throwing error by Mack Stephenson that allowed Anthony Cavalieri (Western Springs, Ill./Fenwick) and Anthony Rios (Lemont, Ill./St. Laurence) to score. Preusser followed with a two-run triple to right center scoring Cantelo and Tittle.

Lewis added three in the seventh. Rios drove in the first run of the inning with a single to right to score Ryan Schefske (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East). Tittle followed with a double to right center to drive in Rios and then Cantelo singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Tittle.

The Flyers put the game out of reach scoring eight runs in the seventh inning on five hits and an error. Rios, Preusser and Dalton Crowder (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) each had two-run singles in the inning.

The Cardinals scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh on Nick Modrcin's double with the bases loaded.

Lewis outhit the Cardinals 12-5 in the contest and were led by Rios, Tittle and Preusser with two hits apiece. Rios and Everett drove in three runs each while Cantelo and Preusser had two RBI apiece.

"Julian got the party started for us offensively and it carried over to the rest of the lineup," McDonough said. "Austin, Anthony and Joe all had great days as well."

Jake Karaba (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) picked up his second win of the season allowing one run on two hits while striking out 11 and walking two in five innings of work. Matt Verdun (Homer Glen, Ill./St. Rita) went the final two innings allowing three runs on three hits with three strikeouts.

"Jake was outstanding today on a difficult day to pitch," McDonough said. "He had swing and miss stuff all day and we fed off of him."

The Flyers return to the diamond on Thursday (March 12) as they travel to St. Louis to take on Maryville in a non-conference game at 12 p.m.