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Romeoville, Ill. - The Bellarmine University starting pitching tandem of Kyle Grana and Phil Forbis threw a combined 13.2 innings, allowing two runs and 10 hits, while striking out 21 Lewis University batters, as the Knights picked up the 4-1, 5-2 Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader sweep over the host Flyers at Brennan Field on Saturday (Apr. 28) afternoon.

"When you score three runs in 16 innings, you're not going to win a lot of games," Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough said. "I thought we were outplayed today defensively and with our at-bats as well."

Despite Grana and Forbis' impressive statlines, McDonough was disappointed in his team's approach at the plate.

"We weren't making contact and putting the ball in play," McDonough said. "We didn't put pressure on their defense like we had been doing all year."

With the sweep, Bellarmine improves to 23-21 overall and 15-13 in conference play, while the Flyers are now 29-15 on the campaign and 18-12 in GLVC action.

Grana (7-2) tossed eight innings of scoreless, four-hit ball - including 13 strikeouts -  to earn the win for the Knights in the opener. He was aided by a Lewis defense that committed four errors in the opener that led to three unearned runs.

The Flyer defense spoiled a nice performance by sophomore pitcher Tom Helwich (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way Central) (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central). Helwich (5-1) took the complete-game loss, as he allowed one earned run and scattered 12 hits, while striking out six batters.

Offensively, Lewis was led by senior Mike Bolling (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep) (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep/Triton) and sophomore right fielder Ben Albano (West Dundee, Ill./Jacobs) (West Dundee, Ill./Jacobs), as they both recorded two hits for the Flyers. Junior first baseman Michael Schroeder (Crown Point, Ind./North Newton) (Crown Point, Ind./North Newton/Triton) drove in the lone Flyer run.

In the nightcap, the Flyers fell behind early, as Bellarmine pushed across two runs in the first inning on a pair of RBI singles by first baseman Kal Scheler and Phillip Leopold off of Lewis starting pitcher Tom Durkin (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew).

Durkin, however, recovered and held Bellarmine hitless over the next five innings, as the score remained 2-0. Durkin allowed two runs and five hits in six innings of work, while fanning five batters.

Following the top of the sixth, the Flyers plated a pair of runs on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by sophomore designated hitter Kyle Kapka (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect) (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect) to even the score up at 2-apiece.

That tie was short-lived, as Bellarmine scored three runs off of Lewis reliever Phil Warner (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North). Warner (0-2) gave up one hit, one walk and three runs in 0.1 innings of work.

During that inning, Bellarmine received RBI singles from Mike Morrissette, Kyle Roden and Leopold to secure the win for the Knights.

Following the game, McDonough lauded the performances of both Helwich and Durkin.

"They both threw well enough to win, but we just didn't do enough behind them," McDonough said.

Lewis and Bellarmine will return to action on Sunday (Apr. 29) for a 'Senior Day' doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. (CST) at Brennan Field.