Softball splits with Lakeland in road NACC twinbill

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin Softball team split with Lakeland College Saturday in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference doubleheader. The Falcons clinched the No. 5 seed in next week's NACC Tournament after finishing the NACC regular season with a 13-9 record.

CUW dropped the opening game 4-2 before responding with a 9-4, game-two victory. The Falcons offense produced 15 hits, including home runs from seniors Mariah Giesseman (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) and Alyssa Robison (Roselle, Ill.) in the second contest. Giesseman drove in five in the win.

Junior Jessica Liszka (Lindenhurst, Ill.) added two doubles in game two as the Falcons came out swinging in the top of the first with three runs. Robison adjusted nicely to her switch to the No. 2 spot in the batting order with a solo home run, while junior Katie Landherr (Waukesha, Wis.) added an RBI single in the inning.

Lakeland would answer right back with four runs in the bottom of the frame, taking a 4-3 lead after one. That lead wouldn't last long thanks to Giesseman as she delivered a grand slam in the top of the second, scoring Liszka, Robison and freshman Jennifer Reicher (Kewaskum, Wis.).

Giesseman would add her fifth RBI of the game in the third inning with an RBI single, plating Liszka. Lizska then made the score 9-4 in the top of the seventh on an RBI double that allowed freshman Erika Martinez-Casper (Milwaukee, Wis.) to score.

Sophomore Melissa Perkins (Park Forest, Ill.) earned the win in game two. Perkins settled down after a tough first inning and threw four innings for the Falcons, while junior Felicia Meyer (Lewiston, Minn.) came on for the three-inning save.

In the opening game, Lakeland built a 3-0 lead in the second inning on three unearned runs. The Falcons would cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth as Robison and freshman Carly Sobrilsky (Brookfield, Wis.) each doubled home a run. LC would add to its lead in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run from Kaylee Ninnemann.

Senior Jamie Schuh (Freedom, Wis.) took the loss in the circle despite allowing just one eanred run over six innings. She finished with three strike outs compared to a pair of walks. Robison paced the offense with two hits.

CUW (19-17, 13-9 NACC) will conclude the regular season with a doubleheader at Maranatha Baptist University Monday. The Falcons will then take on Dominican in the opening round of the NACC Tournament Thursday at 12 p.m.