April 24, 2007

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. - Kelly Dianis hit her team-leading eighth home run of the season, and Lisa Gartland clubbed her fifth, as the No. 8 Flyers split a doubleheader at Saint Xavier, Tuesday afternoon.

The Flyers (28-9) defeated the Cougars 3-1 in the opener and fell by the same score in the nightcap.

Dianis' home run came in the top of the first inning of game one. The solo blast matched her home run total of a season ago, and put her four away from the Lewis career record.

Saint Xavier tied the game in the bottom half of the first, but starter Courtney Lyons (11-3) kept the Cougars scoreless the rest of the way. After two hits in the first, Lyons allowed just three hits over the final six innings, striking out five and walking three to earn the complete-game win.

The Flyers grabbed the lead for good in the third when Mallory Paine singled to left field, scoring Beth Shelus, who had reached on an infield single and stole second earlier in the inning.

Lewis added an insurance run in the seventh. Willis tripled to the left field corner with two outs and Shelus brought her home with a single in the next at-bat.

The Flyers trailed 1-0 in the second inning of game two when Gartland drove a solo homer over the wall in right center. The lead was short-lived though, as Saint Xavier took the lead in the bottom of the second and padded the advantage in the fifth with a solo home run from Samantha Lovato.

Julie Wingerter struck out six in 4 1/3 innings of relief work for Lewis. Jenna Howard (6-1) suffered her first loss as a Flyer.

Kristy Vanek had three hits on the day, including a double in game two. Paine and Shelus each had two hits for Lewis.

The Flyers resume play on Thursday when they host St. Francis at 3 pm.