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East Peoria, Ill. - The Lewis University softball team has put themselves in prime position for their third-straight Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship, as the Flyers earned victories over both Drury (4-3) and UIS (5-3) in the opening day of GLVC Softball Tournament action at the Eastside Centre on Friday (Apr. 27) afternoon.

With the victories, Lewis (33-20) advances to play top-seeded Indianapolis (47-7) at 1 p.m. on Saturday (Apr. 28). The Flyers have won 15 out of their last 16 contests.

"Today was very exciting," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "I like where we're at mentally and we're on a good run, winning 15 of our last 16 games. We've got nothing to lose and we're doing what we can to move up in the regional rankings."

Lewis junior shortstop Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist) (Chicago, Ill./Marist) led the charge for the Flyers on Friday, as she batted a combined 3-for-6 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored in the two victories.

In the opener against Drury, Vucsko broke a 3-all tie in the fifth inning with a solo home run, to help the sixth-seeded Flyers avenge an early-season doubleheader sweep against the Panthers.

Vucsko and junior right fielder Lauren Hanford (Morris, Ill./Morris) (Morris, Ill./Morris) combined for all four of the Flyer RBI. Vucsko went 2-for-3 with two RBI, including a RBI double, and a pair of runs scored, while Hanford connected for a two-run homer. Lewis junior designated player Alexis Munaco (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) pitched in two base hits in the victory.

Lewis freshman pitcher Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) improved to 11-11 on the season, as she allowed three runs and three hits in four innings of work, while fanning three batters.

Flyer senior pitcher Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) earned her third save in as many appearances, as she tossed three innings of scoreless and hitless relief, while striking out five batters. In her last three appearances, Habel has allowed one hit and struck out 10 batters in seven innings of work. 

Brems' counterpart Monica Villarreal (17-10) took the complete-game loss for the Panthers, as she allowed four runs and eight hits, while striking out one batter.

Against UIS, the GLVC West Division champions, Lewis freshman pitcher Kelly Bowler (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) was virtually unhittable. Bowler (12-4) allowed zero runs and two hits through six innings before the Prairie Stars touched her for three runs and five hits in the seventh inning. The Lockport, Ill., native tied a team-season high with 12 UIS strikeouts.

Following a Vucsko solo home run in the first inning, Lewis blew the doors wide open in the fourth, plating four unearned runs in the frame. Lewis senior third baseman Traci Freitag (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central) (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central) recorded a two-run single, while junior center fielder Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) knocked in two runs with a RBI double.

Freitag went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored to lead the Flyers offensively, while senior catcher Mary Giancarlo (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) collected two hits and scored a run in the victory.

UIS starting pitcher Brittany Sitton (10-4) took the loss for the Prairie Stars, allowing five runs (one earned), and seven hits in four innings of work.