LEBANON, Ill. -- The Lewis University softball team split a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader against McKendree Friday (March 29). The Bearcats won the first game, 4-3 in nine innings, while the Flyers won the second 5-4.

GAME 1: McKendree 4, Lewis 3 (9 innings)
TEAM RECORDS
McKendree 23-11, 6-1 GLVC | Lewis 23-7, 8-1 GLVC

GAME 1 SUMMARY
Both teams did not score in the first inning. McKendree struck first in the bottom of the second with a run for an early 1-0 lead.

Lewis responded the next half inning in the third as Jalyn Powell (Tolono, IL/Unity) connected on her fourth home run of the season over the center field wall. 

The Bearcats got the run right back in the bottom of the third to give them a 2-1 lead. McKendree tacked on its lead in the fourth inning with another run which made it 3-1.

Neither team scored in the fifth and sixth innings to keep the score 3-1 Bearcats. 

The Flyers were able to rally in the top of the seventh to tie the contest at 3-3. Evie Calderon (Chicago, IL/Whitney Young) started the frame with a single then Payton Wuske (Frankfort, IL/Lincoln-Way East) drove her home with a RBI triple to right center. 

Kristen Graham (Mapleton, IL/Illini Bluffs High School) tied the contest at 3 after hitting a sacrifice fly to right which scored Wuske. Lewis was able to keep McKendree from walking off in the seventh to force extra innings.

Both teams did not score in the eighth inning before the Bearcats walked off in the bottom of the ninth to win the first game 5-4.

Delaney Garden (Carpentersville, IL/Harry D. Jacobs High School) (10-4) recorded the loss in the circle after going 8.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned), giving up seven hits, walking one and striking out 12. 

GAME 2: Lewis 5, McKendree 4
TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 24-7, 9-1 GLVC | McKendree 23-12, 6-2 GLVC

GAME 2 SUMMARY
McKendree struck first in the opening inning with a solo shot to right which made it 1-0. Both teams did not score in the second inning to keep the score there. 

The Bearcats extended its lead out to 3-0 with a two-run homer in the third inning. Lewis was able to get one back in the next half inning after Meghan Bontrager (Milford, IN/Northridge) singled, Graham was hit by the pitch then Gabi Nilles (North Aurora, IL/West Aurora) drove home Bontrager with her RBI single which made it 3-1. 

McKendree got the run right back in the bottom half which extended the lead to 4-1. Lewis rallied in the fifth inning with four runs which gave the Flyers a 5-4 lead. 

Powell walked, Anna Frafjord (Sussex, WI/Hamilton High School) reached on a fielder's choice, Bontrager singled, Wuske loaded the bases with a walk then Graham touched them all with a two-out grand slam which gave Lewis a 5-4 lead that it did not give up.

Lewis was able to get six outs the rest of the way in the sixth and seventh to secure the victory.

Allie Wondrasek (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West High School) (10-0) recorded the complete game victory as the sophomore tossed all seven innings, allowing four runs (two earned), giving up five hits, issuing three walks and striking out nine. 

UP NEXT
Lewis softball will be back in action Saturday (March 30) as the Flyers travel to St. Louis, Mo. and play a doubleheader at Missouri-St. Louis starting at noon.