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Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University softball team left the bases loaded to end the game in their 6-4 loss to Southern Indiana in the opening game of their Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader on Saturday (March 24) afternoon.

Lewis junior center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) made sure that same mistake would not be repeated, as she roped a bases-clearing, two-out double in the bottom of the sixth inning, to help the Flyers to the 7-5 come-from-behind win over the Screaming Eagles in the nightcap.

With the split, Lewis is now 14-15 on the campaign and 6-8 in conference action, while the Screaming Eagles are now 19-9 overall and 10-4 in GLVC play.

In the opener, Lewis jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings behind RBI singles from junior right fielder Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) (Morris, Ill./Morris) and sophomore first baseman Alyssa Moseley (Crown Point, Ind./Andrean) (Crown Point, Ind./Andrean).

That seemed to be enough for Flyer freshman pitcher Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside), as she held USI hitless through the first three innings, while striking out five batters, three of which were looking.

Southern Indiana, however, got a good look at Brems through their first time through their line-up. The Screaming Eagles scored three runs and recorded four hits in the fourth inning, including a solo home run from shortstop Stephanie Bittner, to take a 3-2 advantage. USI also received RBI from designated player Kelsey Jankowski (single) and right fielder Katherine Belsito (groundout) in the frame.

The Screaming Eagles would add three more runs off of Brems and relief pitcher Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) to extend their lead to 6-2.  Jankowski (3-for-4, 3 RBI) accounted for two of those RBI, while Bittner welcomed Bowler to the game with her second solo home run of the afternoon for USI's sixth run of the game.

Entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Flyers had one last rally in them, as Moseley connected for a two-run home run off of Brooke Harmening to cut USI's lead to 6-4. Lewis would load the bases with two outs to bring the winning run to the plate in Hanford.

Hanford, however, grounded into a game-ending fielders choice to secure the win for the Screaming Eagles. Brems (6-7) took the loss for the Flyers, as she allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings of work, while fanning seven batters. Harmening (10-6) earned the complete-game win for USI, surrendering four runs and 10 hits, while striking out four batters.

Lewis freshman second baseman Frankie Rys (Homer Glen, Ill./Marist) (Homer Glen, Ill./Marist) went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Moseley was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Lewis sophomore left fielder Jessica Rourke (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while junior designated player Alexis Munaco (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) went 2-for-3 in the opener.

In the nightcap, Lewis jumped on Jankowski for three runs in the first inning on a two-run double by Munaco and a RBI single by Moseley.

The score would remain 3-0 in favor of the Flyers until the fifth inning. Southern Indiana would score five runs off of Lewis starting pitcher Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South), three of which were unearned, to take the 5-3 lead.

Jankowski, Harmening and sophomore left fielder Kyla Gogel all recorded RBI and the Screaming Eagles added two more runs on a three-base, throwing error by Lewis freshman third baseman Bianca Garcia (Elmwood Park, Ill./Elmwood Park) (Elmwood Park, Ill./Elmwood Park).

After retiring Moseley (2-for-3, run RBI) to begin the sixth inning, Lewis junior shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) (Chicago, Ill./Marist) drew a walk from Jankowski and moved over to second base on a Munaco (2-for-3, 2 RBI) single. Lewis senior catcher Mary Giancarlo (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) grounded into a fielder's choice, but Bittner's attempt to double her up at first went array, allowing Vucsko (2 runs) to score from second and cutting Southern Indiana's lead to 5-4.

Southern Indiana relief pitcher Madeline Brink (4-3) would load the bases on a walk to Rys and a single by Garcia to set up Hefler's game-winning double. Hefler was thrown out at third base on the play, attempting to stretch it into a triple.

Brink allowed two runs and two hits in 0.2 innings of work to take the loss. Habel (4-4) allowed five runs, two earned, eight hits and struck out two batters to earn the victory.

The Flyers return to action on Sunday (March 25), as they welcome Kentucky Wesleyan for a 12 p.m. doubleheader at the Lewis Softball Field.