ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Lewis University baseball team completed a four-game series sweep of McKendree Saturday (April 3), defeating the Bearcats 6-5 at Brennan Field. With the win the Flyers improve to 12-8 overall, 10-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while the Bearcats fall to 10-10, 3-9 in the GLVC.
 
McKendree opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning, but the Flyers got the run back in the bottom half of the first as Anthony Rios (Lemont, Ill./St. Laurence) drove home Michael O'Brien (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic) on a sacrifice fly to left field.
 
The Bearcats regained the advantage in the third inning with a run, but again Lewis responded in the home half of the inning, this time with three runs. Jackson Dvorak (New Lenox, Ill./Providence Catholic) hit a two-run home run, scoring Rios and Julian Everett (Frankfort, Ill/Lincoln Way East) followed with a solo home run to give Lewis a 4-2 lead.
 
That lead would grow to 6-2 in the fifth inning as Dvorak doubled home O'Brien and then scored thanks to a wild pitch and passed ball.
 
McKendree came back with three runs in the seventh inning, but Jake Lotz (Palos Hills, Ill./St. Laurence) came in and finished off the seventh and allowed just one base runner in each the eighth and ninth innings, but neither runner was able to get into scoring position as Lotz earned the save, his second on the year.
 
Jonathon Hanscom (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) (2-2) earned the win, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits, striking out six in six innings, while Brenden Boles (1-2) picked up the loss, allowing six runs, four earned, on four hits, while walking six in 4.2 innings. Lotz went 2.2 innings in relief, allowing one hit, striking out three.
 
At the plate Dvorak and Everett each had two hits, while Rios posted two RBI. Angelo Cantelo (Blue Island, Ill./Marian Catholic) drew four walks as the Flyers had 11 walks in the contest, while the Lewis pitchers only allowed one base on balls.
 
Lewis is back in action April 9 at 1 p.m. for the first of a four-game series with No. 1 Lindenwood at Lewis.