FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (Mar. 31, 2015)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside softball team suffered a pair of defeats by razor thin margins on Tuesday afternoon against Great Lakes Valley Conference nemesis Lewis University, yielding an early lead in a 5-3 setback before faltering 1-0 in the nightcap at the Lewis Softball Field.

The Rangers (4-21, 0-12 GLVC) struck first in the opener, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Kalli Gosser got things started with a one-out single, advancing to second on a Megan Holderby single the next at-bat. The Rangers etched the game's first run off a Courtney Ellingson single while back to back walks plated Holderby for the 2-0 edge. The Flyers (16-11, 7-5 GLVC) minimized the damage with a strikeout to end the inning with three runners stranded on base.

Lewis tied the game in the bottom of the first, collecting four hits in the frame to level the score at 2-2 before seizing the lead with a three-run outburst in the third inning for the 5-2 edge.

UW-Parkside struck again in the fourth with a Madison Manders double to left field scoring Emily Bell, closing the gap to just two. A walk and a single put the go-ahead run on first base but the Flyers again escaped the jam relatively unscathed, throwing out the runner at home on a fielder's choice before collecting a strikeout and a pop out to end the frame.

Parkside threatened again in the sixth, loading the bases with one out but a flyout and a putout after it was deemed the runner left early once again dampened the Ranger rally in the agonizing two-run setback.

UW-Parkside collected 10 hits in the opener with Holderby and Ellingson both going three-for-four at the dish.

Ellingson was hit with the loss, striking out three in six innings of action while the Flyers' Lainie Schweickert tallied the win, fanning five in the complete game effort.

It was a pitcher's duel in game two with the host Flyers pushing across the first and ultimately, only, run of the contest. Jenna Cairo emerged as the hero for Lewis hitting a double to left center field with one out to plate Brittany Russell.

Carly Dundee was saddled with the loss despite allowing just one run while her counterpart Kelly Bowler limited the Ranger offense to just two hits, fanning 11 in the complete game shutout.

The Rangers are back on the diamond for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, hauling northward to face Division I University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.