INDIANAPOLIS – The Lewis University softball team opened up the 2024 NCAA II Midwest Regional with a 3-2 loss against fifth seeded Saginaw Valley State at Baumgartner Field on the campus of University of Indianapolis Thursday (May 9).
TEAM RECORDS
No. 5 seed Saginaw Valley State 35-20 | No. 4 seed Lewis 38-16
GAME SUMMARY
Saginaw Valley State started off the scoring in the top of the first to grab an early 1-0 lead. Lewis looked to respond in the bottom half after
Delaney Garden (Carpentersville, IL/Harry D. Jacobs High School) started the frame with a single but the Cardinals got three straight outs.
Neither team scored in the second, third and fourth innings to keep it at 1-0. SVSU doubled its lead in the fifth after hitting a solo shot to right which made it 2-0.
Lewis got one back in the bottom of the sixth after
Grace Kmak (Mokena, Ill./) singled, Garden reached on a fielder's choice,
Gabi Nilles (North Aurora, IL/West Aurora) sacrificed them over to third and second then
Jalyn Powell (Tolono, IL/Unity) hit a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 2-1.
The Cardinals got that run right back in the top half of the seventh to extend their lead to 3-1. The Flyers looked to rally in the bottom half but were only able to bring one home.
Evie Calderon (Chicago, IL/Whitney Young) doubled to left center,
Meghan Bontrager (Milford, IN/Northridge) sacrificed her over to third and
Payton Wuske (Frankfort, IL/Lincoln-Way East) reached on an error that scored pitch runner
Emma Young (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) to make it 3-2. SVSU was able to record the final out to win the game.
Garden (18-9) recorded the loss in the circle after going all seven innings, giving up three runs, allowing nine hits, walking two and striking out four.
UP NEXT
Lewis will be back in action Friday, May 10 as the Flyers took to avoid elimination as the Flyers take on No. 8 seed Missouri S&T starting at 12:30 p.m. CT/1:30 p.m. ET. If Lewis emerges victorious, the Flyers will take on the loser of No. 1 seed and host Indianapolis and No. 5 seed SVSU at 3 p.m. CT/4 p.m. ET.
