ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Lewis University softball team fell to Rockhurst in a doubleheader Saturday (April 9) 11-3 in six innings and 6-4 at Loyola Park. The Flyers fall to 17-17 overall, 6-10 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while Rockhurst improves to 15-19 overall, 9-9 in the GLVC.
 
Game 1 – Rockhurst 11, Lewis 3 (6 innings)
 
The Hawks tallied a run in the first off a double, but Carrie Anderson (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah Community) responded with a home run in the top of the third to even the score.
 
However, the Hawks came back with a three-run home run in the bottom of the third to take a 4-1 advantage. That lead grew to 7-1 in the fifth with another three-run blast.
 
Sara Serena (Kankakee, Ill./Kankakee) helped the Flyers get a run back in the sixth when she grounded into a double play, which scored Gabi Nilles (North Aurora, Ill./West Aurora). An error then scored Evie Calderon (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) to make it a 7-3 game off the bat of Jalyn Powell (Tolono, Ill./Unity). But Rockhurt again responded, this time with four in the sixth to end the game.
 
Delaney Garden (Carpentersville, Ill./H.D. Jacobs) had two hits to lead Lewis. Anna Newcomer (5-9) earned the win for the Hawks, going six innings, allowing four hits and three runs, one earned, while striking out nine. Payton Wuske (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) (7-4) suffered the loss for the Flyers.
 
Game 2 – Rockhurst 6, Lewis 4
 
Rockhurst scored twice in the second inning to take the early lead. The Flyers came back with two runs in the top of the third to even the score. Serena singled to center, scoring Calderon and Nilles.
 
The Flyers then took the lead for the first time on the day in the fourth inning as Nilles homered, scoring Anderson to give Lewis a 4-2 lead.
 
The Hawks came back with one run in the third and then had another three-run home run in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead. The Flyers went down in order in the sixth, but threatened in the seventh. They got their first two batters on via walk before striking out twice sandwiched around a pop out to shortstop as the Hawks held on for the win.
 
Serena and Nilles each had two hits and two RBI to lead the Lewis offense. Garden (8-7) suffered the loss, allowing 10 hits and six runs in six innings. Newcomer (6-9) came on in relief to pitch three shutout innings, not allowing a hit and striking out five to earn the win.
 
Lewis travels to William Jewell for a doubleheader Sunday beginning at noon.