ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Jalyn Powell (Tolono, Ill./Unity) had a big day at the plate going 3-5 with two home runs and five runs batted in to lead Lewis' softball team to a doubleheader sweep against Parkside at the Lewis Softball Field on Tuesday afternoon. The Flyers (20-18) won the opener 5-2 and the nightcap 3-2.
Game 1 – Lewis 5, Parkside 2
Lewis scored all of its runs in the first game in the first inning sending eight batters to the plate scoring five runs on five hits.
Carrie Anderson (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah Community) drove in the first two runs with a two-out single down the right field line to drive in
Delaney Garden (Carpentersville, Ill./H.D. Jacobs) and
Sara Serena (Kankakee, Ill./Kankakee). Powell followed two pitches later hitting a three-run homer to right for her first home run of the season.
The Rangers (5-27) cut the Flyer lead to 5-2 with two runs on two hits in the fifth inning. Rylee Baetz drove in both runs with a single to right center scoring Jadyn Powell and Alyssa Laxson. Parkside had a chance to tie the game but
Sara Serena (Kankakee, Ill./Kankakee) got back-to-back groundouts to escape further damage.
Lewis outhit the Rangers 8-7 in the opener and were led by Serena and Powell with two hits apiece.
Serena (3-2) picked up the win in the circle as she pitched a complete game allowing two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts against two walks.
Game 2 – Lewis 3, Parkside 2
In the second game the Flyers jumped out to 2-0 lead just four batters into the game.
Gabi Nilles (North Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) led of the game with a double down the left field line and went to third on Garden's single to short. Garden would take second on the play after catching Parkside's defense off guard.
Powell drove in her fourth run of the doubleheader as she dropped down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher and Nilles scored on the safety squeeze to make it 1-0. Serena followed with a double to the gap in left center to bring in Garden with the second run.
The Rangers tied the game in the second on a single to center from Taylor Delgado which scored Baetz and Dani Evans scored on an error by
Meghan Bontrager (Milford, Ind./Northridge) to tie the game.
Powell gave Lewis the lead back as she led off the third inning with a home run to center.
Parkside had the tying run at third with one out in the fifth but
Kaelyn Leverson (Atlanta, Ill./Olympia) struck out the final two hitters in the inning to preserve the lead.
The Rangers threatened again in the sixth but Leverson got Baetz to line out to Powell for a 5-3 double play.
Parkside got the tying run on base again in the seventh with a lead-off walk but were unable to drive her in as Leverson got three ground ball outs to end the game.
The Flyers outhit the Rangers 7-4 in the nightcap led by Powell and Nilles with two hits each.
Leverson improved to 1-4 in the circle tossing a complete game allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with five strikeouts and five walks.
Lewis continues its 10-game homestand this Saturday (April 16) as it hosts Lindenwood at the Lewis Softball Field in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
