Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 GM 1 Box Score (PDF) / GM 1 Box Score (HTML)
GM 2 Box Score (PDF) / GM 2 Box Score (HTML)

Evansville, Ind. - The Lewis University softball team is peaking at the right time, as the Flyers swept Southern Indiana, 11-4 and 10-6 on Sunday (Apr. 22) afternoon at the USI Softball Field to clinch a berth in the upcoming Great Lakes Valley Conference Softball Tournament in East Peoria, Ill. Lewis has won 13 of their last 14 contests.

"Coming from where we were three weeks ago and to be able to qualify for the tournament is a wonderful accomplishment," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "We were so deep in the hole and we had a big uphill climb that took us until the last day to give ourselves a chance to defend the GLVC title for the second-straight year.

"I'm so proud of what we've done, because this was a total team effort."

For the second-straight day, Lewis sophomore left fielder  Jessica Rourke (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) and junior shorstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) (Chicago, Ill./Marist) paced the offensive attack for the Flyers, as they batted a combined 10-for-17 with six RBI and three runs scored on the afternoon. 11 different Flyers recorded RBI off of the Southern Indiana pitching staff and Lewis had five innings of scoring at least three runs.

With the sweep, Lewis improves to 29-22 on the campaign and 21-15 in conference action, while the host Screaming Eagles drop to 27-21 on the season and 16-16 in GLVC play.

In the opener, Rourke led the Flyers offensively, as she went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run, including a solo home run. Sophomore first baseman Alyssa Moseley (Crown Point, Ind./Andrean) (Crown Point, Ind./Andrean) went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

The Flyers also received two hits, a RBI and a run scored from Vucsko and junior outfielder Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) (Morris, Ill./Morris). Freshman Frankie Rys (Homer Glen, Ill./Marist) (Homer Glen, Ill./Marist) pitched in two hits, two runs and a RBI in the win.

Lewis actually found themselves trailing to begin the sixth inning, as USI held a 4-3 advantage. The Flyers responded with eight unanswered runs over the sixth and seventh innings to clinch the victory. Moseley recorded two of those RBI, while six other Flyers plated a run during that stretch.

Flyer freshman Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) improved to 10-11 on the campaign, as she allowed four runs and five hits in five innings of work, while striking out four batters. Lewis senior Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) tossed two innings of scoreless relief and struck out three batters to grab her first save of the season.

Southern Indiana starting pitcher Brooke Harmening (16-13) took the loss for the Screaming Eagles, as she surrendered seven runs (3 earned) and 10 hits in six innings.

In the nightcap, Vucsko was the offensive catalyst for the Flyers, as she went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while senior third baseman Traci Freitag (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central) (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central) added a two-run triple. Moseley (run), Rourke (RBI) and junior center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) all recorded two hits in game two.

Lewis freshman pitcher Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) improved to 11-4 on the season, as she allowed six runs (4 earned) and eight hits in five innings of work. Habel earned her second save of the afternoon, as she tossed two innings of scoreless and hitless relief.

USI starting pitcher Stephanie Bittner (0-3) took the loss for the Screaming Eagles, as she allowed nine runs (5 earned) and 11 hits in 4.1 innings of work.