ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Lewis University softball team split a doubleheader against the No. 7 team in the country Grand Valley State Wednesday (March 27). The Lakers won the first game 8-5 in eight innings while the Flyers took the second 2-1 also in eight.

GAME 1: No. 7 Grand Valley State 8, Lewis 5 (8 innings)
TEAM RECORDS
No. 7 Grand Valley State 19-5 | Lewis 22-6

GAME 1 SUMMARY
Both teams were scoreless after the first inning until Grand Valley State scored first in the top of the second inning to make it 1-0. Lewis responded in the bottom half after Gabi Nilles (North Aurora, IL/West Aurora) reached on a fielder's choice which scored Evie Calderon (Chicago, IL/Whitney Young) to tie it at 1-1. 

Neither team scored in the third inning then the Lakers scored three runs in the top of the fourth to grab a 4-1 lead. Lewis was able to get one back in the bottom of the fifth after Erica Hoffman (Hebron, IN/Boone Grove High School) drove home Jalyn Powell (Tolono, IL/Unity) with a RBI single which made it 4-2. 

GVSU got that run right back in the next inning to extend its lead out to 5-2 in the sixth. Lewis got two back the following inning to cut it within one. 

Delaney Garden (Carpentersville, IL/Harry D. Jacobs High School) singled then Grace Kmak (Mokena, Ill./) walked then Powell ripped a two-run double to deep center which scored both of them to make it 5-4. Garden kept it a one score game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning. 

Lewis was able to force extra innings in the seventh inning after rallying to tie the game at 5-5. Payton Wuske (Frankfort, IL/Lincoln-Way East) walked then Kristen Graham (Mapleton, IL/Illini Bluffs High School) drove her home with a RBI double to center which tied it. 

GVSU broke through in extra innings as the Lakers put up a three spot in the top of the eighth inning to give them a 8-5 lead. Lewis was able to threaten in the bottom half of the inning after loading the bases but GVSU got the next two outs to secure the victory.

Garden (10-3) recorded the loss in the circle after going all eight innings, allowing eight runs (six earned), giving up 11 hits, walking two and striking out seven. 

GAME 2: Lewis 2, No. 7 Grand Valley State 1
TEAM RECORDS
No. 7 Grand Valley State 19-6 | Lewis 23-6

GAME 2 SUMMARY
Both teams did not score for the first four innings but had their chances. Lewis loaded the bases in the bottom of the first but was unable to bring a run across. 

Grand Valley struck first in the top of the fifth inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Flyers had another chance to score some runs in the bottom of the sixth after making it bases loaded but failed to score.

Lewis was able to tie it in the bottom of the seventh inning after Nilles singled, Garden bunt singled, Hoffman sacrificed them over to third and second. Graham then tied it with a sacrifice fly to center which scored Nilles to make it 1-1.  

Grand Valley started the eighth inning with some wildness and Lewis showed patience with back-to-back walks to begin the frame. Garden came through and walked it off with an RBI single to left which scored pitch-runner Emma Young (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West).

Allie Wondrasek (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West High School) (9-0) recorded the complete game victory as the sophomore tossed all eight innings, allowing one unearned run, giving up eight hits, issuing one walk and striking out three.

UP NEXT
Lewis softball will be back in action Friday, March 29 as the Flyers resume Great Lakes Valley Conference play for a doubleheader at McKendree starting at noon.