Schuh tosses no-hitter, Softball dominates Maranatha in doubleheader

Box Score [Game 1]: CUW 10, MBBC 0
Box Score [Game 2]: CUW 8, MBBC 0

Audio [Game 1]: Listen to a replay
Audio [Game 2]: Listen to a replay

Video: Skarda's 3RBI double

MEQUON, Wis. - After 14 non-conference games away from home to start the season, the Concordia University Wisconsin softball team returned to the CUW Softball Complex on Tuesday to kick off Nothern Athletics Conference play, and they did so in style.

CUW (7-9, 2-0 NAC) defeated Maranatha Baptist Bible College (4-4, 0-2 NAC) in both games of an afternoon doubleheader, defeating the Crusaders 10-0 in the first meeting before cruising to an 8-0 victory in the second matchup. Both games were completed in five innings.

In the day's second game, Falcon pitcher Jamie Schuh (sophomore, Freedom, Wis.) crafted a no-hitter, allowing only two MBBC batters to reach base while also tossing 11 strikeouts. The entire Crusader lineup was overmatched from the get-go and the Schuh's impressive performance drew praise from her coach after the game.

"Jamie pitched an awesome game today," head coach Steve Crook said. "She pitched ahead in the count and hit her spots when she needed to. Jamie is a disciplined pitcher and she knows when to throw strikes. Our catchers, especially Chelsie Strosina, deserve a lot of credit for commanding the strike zone behind the plate."

Senior Danielle Burke (Burlington, Wis.) was almost just as impressive in the circle in the first game, throwing a complete game two-hitter while throwing 12 strikeouts. Burke ran into some trouble in the game's fourth inning, but got out of a bases-loaded jam with a two-out strikeout of MBBC's Torey DeLozier.

At the plate, CUW received production from all over the batting order, but especially from sophomore Mariah Giesseman (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) and freshman Jessica Liszka (Lindenhurst, Ill.).

Giesseman went 4-for-6 between the two games, while collecting four RBI and scoring three runs. Liszka combined to go 4-for-5 with a walk, scoring four runs out of the leadoff role while also driving in three RBI.

Senior Sarah Cochran also had a solid day at the dish, going 2-for-5 with a walk, three runs scored and two RBI.

"Today's victories were a good start to the NAC portion of our schedule," Crook said. "We had the right approach at the plate, were disciplined, and our hitters waited for and swung at their pitches. All aspects of our game were clicking today and we were doing the little things, such as having quality at-bats. I also liked how our hitters made adjustments during their second and third at-bats."

Next up for the Falcons is a doubleheader in River Forest, Ill., to take on Concordia University Chicago on Saturday with a first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.