Softball struggles in NACC Tournament setback against Edgewood

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin Softball team opened up its NACC Tournament run in a disappointing way Thursday, falling to sixth-seeded Edgewood College by a 7-2 score. The Falcons played uncharacteristically poor defense, committing four errors which led to four unearned runs for the Eagles.

The loss sends the Falcons to an elimination game tomorrow at 11 a.m. CUW will play the loser of today's 4 p.m. game between Aurora and either Concordia Chicago or Dominican.

Some bright spots for CUW on Thursday included the play of a trio of players who were named to the Second Team All-NACC earlier in the day. Sophomore Carly Sobrilsky (Brookfield, Wis.) crushed a solo home run in the fourth inning, while Alexis Holsten (Oshkosh, Wis.) and Christine Sharon (Cornell, Mich.) each had two hits for CUW.

The Falcons built a 1-0 lead in the first when Sharon, who led off the frame with a single, scored on an illegal pitch. That lead was quickly erased as the Eagles took advantage of three CUW errors to score four unearned runs in the second inning. Edgewood would extend its lead to 6-1 with a pair of runs in the fourth, one of those on a solo home run by Sabrina Maicke.

CUW would score in the bottom of the fourth when Sobrilsky belted her home run but Edgewood answered with one in the top of fifth for the 7-2 final.

Maicke and Kayla Updike paced the Eagles offense with two hits and Edgewood held a slight 8-7 advantage in hits. The difference in the game was the fact the Eagles made no errors compared to the four committed by the Falcons.

Sophomore Melissa Perkins (Park Forest, Ill.) was the pitcher of record for the Falcons as she gave up six runs, only two of those earned. Perkins struck out four without issuing a walk. Freshman Emily Brekke (Waterford, Wis.) pitched the final three innings, giving up one run, while striking out five.

Live coverage for tomorrow's game will be available with links at CUWFalcons.com.