Softball drops a pair of one-run games in NACC twinbill at Dominican

RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Facing a 6-0 deficit heading into the bottom of the sixth inning of game two of a NACC doubleheader, Dominican rallied for seven runs over its final two at bats to complete a sweep over the Concordia University Wisconsin Softball team Friday afternoon. The pair of losses drops the Falcons to third in the NACC standings.

The Falcons, who entered Friday tied with Concordia Chicago for second place, are still tied with the Cougars after Friday's results. Unfortunately for both teams, Benedictine, which swept Concordia Chicago Friday, jumped up to second place and now controls its own destiny for the final bye in the NACC Tournament heading into tomorrow.

Game one on Friday featured a pitchers dual between the Falcons' Melissa Perkins and the Stars' Michelle Behrens. Perkins (junior – Park Forest, Ill.) pitched a complete game for CUW, throwing six innings allowing just one earned run. She struck out two and did not issue a walk. Behrens also went the distance, scattering seven hits and allowing one run in her seven innings in the circle.

Dominican took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second thanks an error by the Falcons, but CUW would respond with a run in the fifth on and RBI single off the bat of freshman Christine Sharon (Cornell, Mich.), scoring sophomore Alexis Holsten (Oshkosh, Wis.).

The Stars plated the winning run in the bottom of the sixth on a sac fly from Armani Proctor, scoring Marissa Burns.

In game two the Falcons scored two runs each in the second, fourth and sixth innings to take a 6-0 lead after five-and-a-half. Dominican rallied, scoring three times in the sixth and four times in the seventh to escape with the doubleheader sweep. Two of the Stars runs were unearned as CUW combined for four errors over the two games.

Freshman Karly Jackson (Neenah, Wis.) was 2-for-2 with two RBI for the Falcons off the bench in game two, while freshman Jamie Reiser (Ingleside, Ill.) led the team with three hits. Another rookie, Andrea Thiry (Green Bay, Wis.), scored two runs for the Falcons in the nightcap. Starting pitcher Emily Brekke (Waterford, Wis.) also had two RBI for the Falcons.

Burns paced Dominican with three hits, two runs scored and three RBI in game two, which included a two-run home run in the sixth. She would add an RBI single in the seventh and Catherine Conte recorded the game-winning hit for Dominican.

Perkins was the pitcher of record in game two after coming on in relief for Brekke. Brekke lasted until the sixth inning, with her final line reading five innings pitched, six hits and two runs allowed. She struck out one and walked one. Olivia Babusci got the win in relief for Dominican, throwing 1.2 innings and allowing just one hit.

CUW (23-13, 14-6 NACC) will close out the regular season tomorrow with a NACC doubleheader against Lakeland. Tomorrow will also serve as Senior Day for the Falcons and the twinbill is set for a noon start at the CUW Softball Field.