Landherr, Schuh power Softball to sweep over Alverno

MILWAUKEE – Senior infielder Cara Landherr and junior pitcher Jamie Schuh each had impressive performances in leading Concordia University Wisconsin to a sweep over Alverno College in a Northern Athletics Conference Softball doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

Schuh (Freedom, Wis.) struck out a career-best 16 batters in the opening game, a 4-2 win, before the Falcon bats took over the second game behind three home runs from Landherr (Waukesha, Wis.) as they completed the sweep with a 17-3 win in five innings.

The first game was all about Schuh as she was dominant from the start in winning her ninth game of the season. The junior allowed just four hits and two runs while recording the 16 strikeouts, which included striking out the side in the fourth and seventh innings.

The Falcons actually fell behind in the opener as Alverno plated one run in the bottom of the first inning. CUW (19-13, 13-5 NAC) responded in the second when junior Alyssa Robison (Roselle, Ill.) drove in senior Abbie Goetsch (Grayslake, Ill.) tying the score at 1-1. The Falcons would then take the lead in the fourth inning with a pair of runs, including an RBI double from junior Mariah Giesseman (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) Goetsch would cap of the CUW scoring with a solo home run in the top of the sixth.

Goetsch finished the opener with a 3-for-4 performance, scoring three times, while Robison added two hits for the Falcons. Emily Ortner led AC with two hits, including a triple, while Erin Dulek took the loss, striking out six in a complete game effort.

The second game was the Landherr show as she sent a pitch flying over the outfield fence in the first, second, and fourth innings, accumulating the eight RBIs. Landherr finished the game 4-for-4 and also scored three times.

Goetsch had another strong performance in the second contest going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Senior Jannelle Schroder (Colgate, Wis.) also had a big game as she went 2-for-4 with a home run, five RBIs and three runs scored. Giesseman and Robison each added two hits for the Falcons who finished the game with 16 total.

Freshman Melissa Perkins (Park Forest, Ill.) earned the win as she threw all five innings, allowing three runs and striking out one. Jamie Vllalobos took the loss for Alverno (12-10, 4-8 NAC), lasting just 1.2 innings and giving up seven earned.

CUW will return to action Monday when they take on Mount Mary in non-conference action at the CUW Softball Field. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.