Softball stands alone in first place after Lakeland sweep

MEQUON, Wis. – It might have taken 26 hours, but the Falcons were able to sweep the Muskies of Lakeland to improve to 12-7 on the season. The Falcons hooked the Muskies with a 10-2 and a 7-3 sweep to stand alone in first place in the NACC at 7-1. Lakeland falls to 10-12 and to 3-3 in the NACC. With the sweep, Benedictine passes Lakeland in the standings at 6-2. The seven-game winning streak is the longest since the Falcons rode an eight-game streak in 2017.

"I am really happy with how we played," said head coach Steve Crook. "In game one, Jenna was in an absolute zone. Then in game two, they pitched around her and Sara was phenomenal, going four for four with four RBI. That is the kind of play that sums up our season. From top to bottom, players have stepped up when we needed them to. That is also true of pitching, where we have used five pitchers and all having success. Becky also had a week any player would be envious of."

Game one started on an overcast Sunday afternoon

Taylor Bush put the Muskies on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning with a two-run home run.

The Falcon bats caught on fire in the bottom of the first inning with six runs.

Senior Maddie Zazas (Mundelein, Ill.) scored junior Molly O'Connell (New London, Wis.) and junior Samantha Schloegl (Genoa City, Wis.) on a double into the gap in right-center field.

Sophomore Jenna Pozezinski (Lake Villa, Ill.) then homered to center field to score Zazas.

Freshman Krystal Cortes (Aurora, Ill.) then had a double down the right-field line to score senior Becky Bonnin and senior Sara Rosenow (Kimberly, Wis.).

The second inning saw Jenna Pozezinski launch her second home run of the day to send in Samantha Schloegl.

As the CUW poured on the Muskies, the rain then poured from the sky in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The game was resumed on Monday afternoon.

Sara Rosenow started the scoring on Monday on a fielder's choice to score Samantha Schloegl.

Senior Becky Bonnin (Kenosha, Wis.) had a single to left field to push Maddie Zazas across home plate.

Freshman Gina Followell (Romeoville, Ill.) earned her sixth victory of the season with seven strikeouts.

Samantha Schloegl led all batters with three hits.

The Falcons wasted no time in game two to get on the scoreboard in the first inning.

Sara Rosenow had a triple to the fence to score Jenna Pozezinski and Samantha Schloegl.

The Muskies cut into the lead with a single through the middle of the infield in the second inning.

Junior Emma Schimberg (Random Lake, Wis.) was able to extend the lead in the third inning on a single down the right-field line to score Sara Rosenow.

The CUW defense was able to keep the Muskies from scoring with runners on second and third base on two separate occasions in game two.

The Falcons added three more runs in the sixth inning.

Samantha Schloegl singled to shortstop to score freshman Baileigh Johnson (Neillsville, Wis.).

Schloegl then scored on a single from Jenna Pozezinski.

Sara Rosenow put the bow on a perfect four-for-four performance in game two with a single through the left side of the infield. Her veteran baserunning skills were able to safely cross freshman Jillian Gardner and Maddie Zazas across home plate.

The Muskies put up a fight and scored two runs in the seventh inning, but the Falcons were able to hook the Muskies into the boat with a 7-3 victory.

Freshman Nicki Becker (Brodhead, Wis.) earned the victory with three strikeouts. Freshman Alyssa Vilkoski (Greenfield, Wis.) earned the save with two strikeouts.

Sara Rosenow finished with a game-high four hits and RBI.

The Tuesday series against Wisconsin-Stevens Point was postponed until April 29. The Falcons will return to action on Thursday at Wisconsin-Whitewater.