Lewis Athletics
Luke Rinne, Director of Athletics Communications
ROMEOVILLE – Lewis’ softball team overcame a three-run first inning deficit in game two of its doubleheader to win 5-4 on Dara Sanders (Crestwood, Ill./Mother McAuley) walk-off double with one out in the bottom of the seventh to complete the sweep over Rockhurst on Monday afternoon at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Ill. The Flyers (14-24, 6-12 GLVC) won the opener 8-0 in six innings.
Game 1 – Lewis 8 Rockhurst 0 (6 innings)
Lewis sent eight batters to the plate in the third scoring five runs on five hits and an error. Amy Bukovsky (Aurora, Ill./Montini Catholic)started the rally with a one out single to second and went to second on a throwing error by the second baseman. Maddy Beck (Racine, Wis./Case) put the Flyers on top lining a double to left center to score Bukovsky. Sara Serena (Kankakee, Ill./Kankakee) followed with a single up the middle to score Beck with the second run of the inning.
Cierra Taylor (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) doubled to center to put runners on second and third for Elexis Swartzentruber (Normal, Ill./Normal Community). Swartzentruber drove in Serena with a sacrifice fly down the left field line. Cassie Shaw (Moline, Ill./Moline)ripped a two-run homer to left to make it 5-0.
Shaw held the Hawk (20-19, 7-11 GLVC) bats in check setting down the first 12 hitters of the contest before allowing a leadoff single to Calli Wibbenmeyer leading off the fifth. Wibbenmeyer advanced to second with one out but Shaw struck out Lauren Marks and retired Katie Wood on a popup too short to end the inning.
Lewis added to its lead in the fifth. With one out, Serena doubled to right and advanced to third on Taylor’s single to left. Serena scored on the backend of a double steal attempt as Taylor was thrown out in a rundown between first and second for the second out of the inning.
The Flyers won it in the sixth scoring twice in the frame. Lofthouse drove in Allie Piatt with a squeeze bunt and Morgan Weber (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) scored on an error by the first baseman to end the game.
Lewis had 10 hits in the contest and were led by Serena with three while Taylor and Shaw had two hits apiece. Shaw faced one batter over the minimum in the contest allowing just the one hit while striking out two batters in the contest to improve to 5-11. She recorded 11 of her 16 outs on the ground.
Game 2 – Lewis 5 Rockhurst 4
Rockhurst came out swinging in game two scoring three runs on four hits in the first inning. Wibbenmeyer had the big hit in the inning driving in two with a double to center and she came around to score on Lauren Marks’ double to left center.
Lewis loaded the bases with no one out in the second but Jessica Lofthouse (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) grounded into a double play and Amy Bukovsky (Aurora, Ill./Montini Catholic) struck out swinging to end the threat.
The Flyers threatened again in the third bringing the tying run to the plate with one out. Swartzentruber lined out to center and Shaw was robbed of extra bases and two RBI on great running catch by Marks in left.
Lewis got on the board in the fourth on Sanders solo home run to left. It was her first home run of the season.
The Flyers tied the game in the fifth with two runs on two hits. Shaw drove in the first run with an infield single to short and then later in the inning with the bases loaded Courtney Mahalik (New Lenox, Ill./Providence Catholic) scored on a wild pitch.
The Hawks scored the go-ahead run on a bases loaded walk with one out in the seventh.
Shaw started the one out rally in the bottom of the seventh by walking on a 3-2 pitch. Allie Piatt came into run for Shaw and advanced to second on Lauren Brennan’s (Cantonment, Fla./J.M. Tate)infield single to second. Sanders lined the first pitch she saw to center. Megan Freitag tried to make a diving catch but the ball got past her and rolled all the way to the wall allowing Piatt and Brennan to score to win the game.
Lewis outhit the Hawks 11-7 in the nightcap and were led by Taylor, Shaw, Brennan and Sanders with two apiece. Sanders pitched the final 6.1 innings allowing one run on three hits with a strikeout to pick up the win and improve to 7-9 on the season.
The Flyers return to the diamond on Wednesday taking on Parkside in a doubleheader in Somers, Wis. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.