Softball opens NACC play with doubleheader sweep of Alverno

MEQUON, Wis. – Senior Mariah Giesseman hit two home runs in game two of a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference doubleheader as the Concordia University Wisconsin Softball team began conference play with a sweep of Alverno College. The Falcons won game one 9-2 before finishing off the sweep with a 9-3 win in the second contest at the CUW Softball Field.

Giesseman (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) had a strong second game as she homered in both of her at bats, while also walking in the fifth. Both home runs were two-run shots, one in the first inning and one in the third. Freshman Alexis Holsten (Oshkosh, Wis.) finished the second game 4-for-4 as her and Giesseman each scored a team-best three runs. Two of Holsten's four hits were doubles.

In the game one win it was the trio of senior Alyssa Robison (Roselle, Ill.), freshman Jennifer Reicher (Kewaskum, Wis.) and sophomore Marisa Hahn (Northville, Mich.) that paced the CUW offense. Hahn finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored from the leadoff spot. Reicher led the team with three hits, two being doubles and drove in two, while Robison belted a two-run blast over the rightcenter field wall in the fifth inning. Freshmen Nicole Bublitz (Brown Deer, Wis.) and Carly Sobrilsky (Brookfield, Wis.) added doubles in the first game.

The Falcons also received quality pitching performances from a trio of players on Saturday. Sophomore Melissa Perkins (Park Forest, Ill.) pitched six innings in game one, allowing one earned run, while striking out three. Senior Jamie Schuh (Freedom, Wis.) threw five innings in gaining the win in game two, also allowing one earned and striking out seven. Junior Felicia Meyer (Lewiston, Minn.) pitched a combined three innings of relief and recorded four punchouts.

The big inning proved key for the Falcons as they scored two or more times in six of 12 innings at the plate. CUW had a four-run inning in each contest, the second frame of game one and the fifth in game two. 

In game one the Falcons came out swinging in the second inning as three RBI doubles led to the four runs. Hahn recorded a two-RBI double, while Sobrilsky and Reicher each drove in one with a two-bagger of their own.

Alverno (3-8, 0-2 NACC) would score once in the fourth inning but Robison put the Falcons up five with her two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. CUW then scored three times in the sixth as Holsten and Reicher each had RBIs in the frame.

Game two saw the Inferno score once to go up 1-0 after a half inning of play. CUW answered quickly, scoring three times in the bottom of the first, two coming on Giesseman's first round tripper. AC made the score 3-2 but the Falcons would add three in the third and four in the fifth for a 9-2 lead. Alverno tacked on an unearned run in the top of the seventh.

CUW (8-8, 2-0 NACC) will return to play tomorrow by visiting MSOE for a NACC doubleheader. First pitch between the Falcons and Raiders of game one is set for noon.