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St. Louis, Mo. - Despite only managing nine hits in two contests, the Lewis University softball team was able to salvage a split against Missouri-St. Louis on Wednesday (March 7), as the host Tritons claimed the 6-0 win in the opener, while the Flyers held on for the 4-3 victory in the nightcap at UMSL Softball Field.

"Our hitting just isn't there yet," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "We have a lot of players battling themselves out there. Hitting is so mental and we're definitely struggling right now, but to have nine hits all day and still come away with a split? I'm very pleased with that."

Lewis junior right fielder Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) (Morris, Ill./Morris) accounted for three of the Flyers' nine hits on the afternoon.

"Lauren is playing exceptionally well right now," DiMatteo said. "She's been getting clutch hits all season for us."

With the split, UMSL is now 10-8, while the Flyers are now 6-11.

In the opener, UMSL took advantage of winds that gusted up to 45 miles-per-hour and connected for five solo home runs off of Lewis starting pitcher Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside).

Tritons' second baseman Katie Wood and starting pitcher Leslie Davis each connected for two home runs off of Brems, while the fifth solo blast came from UMSL shortstop Haleigh Jenkins.

Davis was equally as dominant in the circle, as she tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout while striking out three batters. Brems (2-5) allowed six runs and seven hits while fanning six batters in 3.1 innings of work.

In the nightcap, Lewis struck in the first inning on a RBI single from Hanford.

The Tritons responded in the second inning with a run without the benefit of a hit. Following a lead-off walk, the Tritons put runners on second and third base, following a fielding error and throwing error by Lewis third baseman Bianca Garcia (Elmwood Park, Ill./Elmwood Park) (Elmwood Park, Ill./Elmwood Park) on the same play. Jenkins then plated pinch runner Patsi Huebner with a squeeze bunt to even the score up at 1-apiece.

Lewis broke the 1-all tie in the top of the fourth inning following a RBI single by senior catcher Mary Giancarlo (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) and a run-scoring double by Garcia to propel the Flyers to the 3-1 advantage.

The Flyers tacked on an insurance run in the fifth inning on a double by junior shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) (Chicago, Ill./Marist) to extend their lead to 4-1.

That insurance run proved crucial, as UMSL starting pitcher Jena Boudreau cracked a two-run double in the bottom half of the frame to narrow Lewis' advantage to 4-3. Boudreau advanced to third on a single by first baseman Brianna Butler, but Flyer reliever Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) retired the final two batters to end the threat.

Bowler earned her first career save, while Lewis starting pitcher Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) claimed her first win of the season. Habel (1-4) held UMSL hitless over the first four innings and surrendered three runs, two earned, three hits and four strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. Bowler struck out three batters and allowed two hits in 2.2 innings pitched.

"Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) pitched really well today," DiMatteo said. "UMSL didn't touch her all afternoon."

Boudreau (5-2) was tagged with the loss in game two, as she allowed four runs, three earned, and five hits while striking out two batters in 4.1 innings of work.

Lewis returns to action on Saturday (March 10), as they welcome Rockhurst to the Lewis Softball Field for a 12 p.m. (CST) doubleheader.