Falcons Grow Winning Streak to Nine With Doubleheader Sweep

MEQUON, Wis. - The Concordia Wisconsin softball team extended its winning streak to nine consecutive games on Saturday, topping the Alverno Inferno in both halves of the day's doubleheader. The contest advanced the team's season record to 19-9 while improving the squad's record to 13-3 in NACC play. The day also pushed Concordia's winning streak against Alverno to 12 contests.

The Falcons plated nine runs in the opening inning of the day, kicking off an afternoon that saw the team outscore Alverno 31-2. Junior Jess Pozezinski (Lake Villa, Ill.) took responsibility for three RBIs in the frame, picking up a double and single to bookend the inning's scoring for Concordia. Junior Megan Bloyer (Oregon, Wis.) and senior Madi Wheat (Coweta, Okla.) sent two runners across the plate in the stretch, while a single by junior Adrianna Martinez (Chicago, Ill.) and a sacrifice fly by senior Gabbi Gaziano (Beloit, Wis.) represented the remainder of the Falcons' scoring plays.

Sophomore Rylie DuVal (Elgin, Ill.) put senior Emily Walters (Waupun, Wis.) across the plate with a sacrifice fly in the following inning before Gaziano and Martinez made their way home by way of a wild pitch and steal, respectively.

The scoring barrage continued in the third frame as four Falcons batted in runs. Junior Jasmine Freeze (Beloit, Wis.), Gaziano, senior Lexi Bridenhagen (Neenah, Wis.), and sophomore Maggie Plahmer (Slinger, Wis.) brought the scoreboard to 16-0 in Concordia's favor.

Alverno picked up a pair of runs in the fifth inning of play, but the Falcons got a quick final out, securing the 16-2 victory.

Martinez improved her season record to 5-0 on the mound, striking out four batters.

The Falcons similarly dominated the second game of play, outscoring the Inferno by a 15-0 margin.

Wheat batted in the first score of the day with a sacrifice fly in the opening inning before Gaziano sent in two runs with a single to center field. The Falcons doubled their lead in the following inning, which began with Pozezkinski doubling in senior Sydney Erdmann (Geneva, Ill.) for her second run of the contest. An infield single by Freeze two at-bats later brought another run home before an error plated Concordia's sixth run of the day.

The Falcons broke free in the fourth inning, scoring nine runs. Freeze and Gaziano each plated a pair of runs to begin the stretch before Erdmann and Wheat both collected RBI singles. With the score reading at 12-0, Pozezinski sent a double into right field that put three runs over the plate for Concordia, and the 15-run reading for Concordia would retire the scoreboard for the day.

The Falcons picked up a double play in the top of the fifth inning to close the game, marking the team's ninth consecutive victory. Freeze notched her seventh win of the season, moving her total ERA to 4.01.

Concordia will look to continue its winning ways in its next series of matchups against the 9-27 St. Norbert Green Knights on April 30. The Falcons enter the contest holding a four-game winning streak against St. Norbert, having won five of six games in the all-time series.