Softball swept by Aurora in NAC doubleheader

AURORA, Ill. – The Concordia University Wisconsin Softball team had its five-game Northern Athletics Conference winning streak snapped at the hands of Aurora University as it was swept Sunday in a conference doubleheader. Aurora won game one 9-1 in six innings before taking the second contest 11-1 in five innings.

The opening game was scoreless until the fourth inning as junior pitcher Jamie Schuh (Freedom, Wis.) and her counterpart, Natalie Zanella, were dueling through three innings. Both teams would score one run in the fourth, with CUW getting a homerun from sophomore Jessica Liszka (Lindenhurst, Ill.), making the score 1-1 after four complete.

That is when the game shifted in favor of the host Spartans as they scored twice in the fifth and ended the game by tallying six runs in the sixth inning, giving them a 9-1 win virtue of the eight-run rule.

The Falcons offense couldn't get much going in the opener as they managed just three hits, one each coming from Liska, senior Jannelle Schroder (Colgate, Wis.), and junior Alyssa Robison (Roselle, Ill.). Schuh threw the entire game for CUW as she struck out seven batters.

AU was led by leadoff hitter Stephanie Lynch in the opener as she paced the Spartans attack with three hits and two runs scored. Zanella gained the win, throwing six innings and striking out three while allowing just three hits.

Aurora (19-3, 11-1 NAC) picked up right where it left off in the second game as the Spartans scored all 11 runs in the first three innings of play, including nine in the bottom of the third to coast to the 11-1 victory. Andrea Graves had the big hit of game two, belting a grand slam in her only at bat of the contest.

Robison scored the Falcons only run in the second game as she finished the contest 1-for-2, while senior Cara Landherr (Waukesha, Wis.) added a single for the Falcons. Sophomore Sara Skarda (Pleasant Prairie, Wis.) drove in a run in game two.

CUW (13-13, 7-5 NAC) continues its eight-game stretch over four days tomorrow when they visit Maranatha Baptist Bible College in a conference doubleheader. First pitch between the Falcons and Crusaders is set for 3 p.m.