JOLIET, Ill. - The Lewis University baseball team dropped a 6-3 decision to St. Francis Wednesday (March 2) in a nonconference game at Duly Health and Care Stadium. The Flyers fall to 0-5 on the season, while the Saints improve to 3-7.

Lewis opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third inning. Thomas Fox (Norfolk, Va./Norfolk Christian) doubled, scoring Gavin Kriegel (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire) and Michael Alt (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly), both of whom reached base via walk. A wild pitch later scored Fox, who had advanced to third on a groundout from Cain Headrick (Custer Park, Ill./Providence Catholic).

St. Francis scored three times in the bottom of the fourth to even the score at 3-3. Sam Tumilty singled home Jake LaSota and then scored on a passed ball. Al Martinez scored on a wild pitch to finish off the inning.

The Saints added three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead. Tumilty scored an unearned run on a fielder's choice to open the scoring. That was followed by a Martinez run on a balk and then Jake Vera scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Kirnbauer.

The Flyers mounted a threat in the ninth inning as Dalton Crowder (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) and Alt both walked to bring up the tying run with two outs, but a strikeout ended the game.

Lewis walked eight times in the game, but were limited to two hits, one apiece from Fox and David Ascencio (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central), both doubles. The Flyers struck out just six times in the contest, while their pitchers struck out 14 Saint batters.

Matt Lopez (1-0) earned the win for St. Francis, pitching one scoreless inning with a strikeout, while Jake Lotz (Palos Hills, Ill./St. Laurence) (0-1) took the loss, allowing one hit and three unearned runs with two strikeouts in one inning. Jackson Brown (Oconomowoc, Wis./Oconomowoc) and Matt Helwig (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) combined for three scoreless innings of relief, striking out seven batters, while allowing three hits. Jonathon Hanscom (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) pitched two scoreless innings as starter, striking out three and allowing one hit.

The Flyers head to Winter Haven, Florida for the Russmatt Invitational, which begins Sunday with their first game at 9:15 a.m. against West Virginia Wesleyan.