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Romeoville, Ill. - Bellarmine University and Lewis University combined for six home runs in their Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader on Saturday (March 31) afternoon, as the Knights took the opening game, 2-1, while the Flyers rallied for the 8-6 come-from-behind win in the nightcap at the Lewis Softball Field.

Bellarmine shortstop Megan Murdoch provided all the offense the Knights' needed in the opener with a two-run homer in the first inning.

The Knights jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the nightcap behind home runs from catcher Scarlett Powers (solo) and first baseman Lauren Summe (grand slam). Bellarmine, however, would not be the only team with the big sticks, as Leiws senior catcher Mary Giancarlo (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) hit a three-run homer - the first blast of her career - and junior shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) hit her second home run of the day to tie the score up at 6-apiece.

Lewis added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a two-run infield single by senior right fielder Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) (Morris, Ill./Morris) to secure the 8-6 victory.

For the day, Lewis finished with 23 hits with junior center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) accounting for six of those base-knocks.

"It's a great feeling," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said of the comeback win in game two. "We've been working our tails off and let's hope that this is a sign that our bats are coming alive.

"Sometimes you find magic and who knows, maybe this is the start of something special?"

With the split, Bellarmine is now 20-16 on the campaign and 11-7 in GLVC action, while the Flyers are now 16-19 on the season and 8-12 in conference play.

Bellarmine starting pitcher Alicia Miller earned the complete-game victory for the Knights in the opener, as she scattered 10 hits and allowed one run in seven innings of work.

Hanford went 3-for-4 with a stolen base to lead the Flyers offensively at the dish. Hefler went 2-for -4 with a RBI and a stolen base, while sophomore first baseman Alyssa Moseley (Crown Point, Ind./Andrean) (Crown Point, Ind./Andrean) was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Lewis freshman pitcher Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) was the tough-luck loser for the Flyers. Brems (7-9) allowed two runs and four hits, while striking out six BU batters.

In the nightcap, Powers staked Bellarmine to a 1-0 lead in the second inning with her solo blast. Vucsko, however, answered in the bottom half of the frame with a solo blast of her own to even the score up at 1-apiece. Two batters later, Flyer freshman second baseman Frankie Rys (Homer Glen, Ill./Marist) (Homer Glen, Ill.//Marist) added a RBI double to push Lewis ahead, 2-1.

Lewis starting pitcher Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) (Lockport, Ill./Lockport), however, ran into some trouble in the fifth inning, as Bellarmine batted around and scored five runs, including Summe's grand slam blast, to take a 6-2 lead.

The Flyers would put two runners on with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, as Giancarlo (2-for-3, 3 RBI, run) cut Bellarmine's lead to 6-5 with a three-run blast over the center field wall. Vucsko (2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 runs) then chased BU starting pitcher Amanda Meyer from the game with her second solo home run of the game to even the score at six.

Clutch hitting would strike again for the Flyers in the sixth inning, as Hanford recorded a two-out, two-run infield single off of Miller, that plated Hefler from second base to give Lewis the 8-6 lead.

Despite the rough outing, Bowler improved to 5-4 on the campaign, as she allowed six runs, five earned, and 10 hits on the afternoon while striking out five batters. Miller (10-10) was tagged with the loss, as she pitched 1.1 innings of relief, allowing two runs and three hits.

Hefler went 4-for-4 with three stolen bases and two runs scored to lead the Flyers offensively while Rys (RBI) and freshman designated player Bianca Garcia (Elmwood Park, Ill./Elmwood Park) (Elmwood Park, Ill./Elmwood Park) each went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

The Flyers return to action on Sunday (Apr. 1), as they welcome Northern Kentucky to the Lewis Softball Field for a 12 p.m. doubleheader.