Championships at Arcadia University. The junior shut out the top-seeded Scarlet Knights and held Neumann to just two earned runs in an extra-inning loss. Coach Ambler needed Lewis to bounce back and give another strong outing against Misericordia, and Lewis responded with a strong two-hit effort. Unfortunately for the fifth seeded Eagles, both those hits came in the bottom of the sixth, and the Eastern atack was not able to generate a run in the 1-0 loss.
Lewis had to work out of a jam in the fourth when a the Cougars put a runner on second after a one out error. Lewis got the next batter to ground out to short, and after walking a batter, induced a ground ball to Stephanie Weaver who beat the runner to the bag and keep the game scoreless.
With the wind blowing in at a steady 15 miles an hour and the temperature in the low 50's, it was definately a pitchers day, and the Eagles had only a couple decent chances to generate a rally. The best chance of the day came in the top of the sixth with the top of the order up. Alissa Brubaker rapped a solid single up the middle to put the go-ahead runner on with no outs. The chance when begging as the next three Eastern batters couldn't move the shortstop along.
In the bottom of the inning, the Cougars did their damage. A lead-off double from pitcher Nichole Decatur fell just inside the line in left, and after Lewis twice jammed the next batter trying to bunt. She swung away and hit a flare to right center that senior Jacey Bray tracked down with a diving catch. The runner advance to third on the play. Senior catcher Jen Gehman rapped a solid single up the middle to score the game's only run. Lewis received a little more help from right fielder Amanda Daveler with a second diving catch to finish the inning without further damage, but the Decatur kept the Eagles off balance and one run held up. The Eagles finished the year in third place.
Lewis pitched 20 2/3's innings in a 24 hour period and kept the Eagles in each game. Coach Ambler said of the games, "Ashley came into the weekend with a great frame of mind, and she pitched very well. We played really solid defense behind her throughout the weekend."
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