Softball gains two key NACC wins in sweep at Marian

FOND DU LAC, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin Softball team went on the road and gained two key Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference wins Saturday, sweeping Marian in a twinbill. The Falcons won the second game in extra innings thanks to RBI doubles from Lexi Holsten and Maddie Zazas in the eighth. In addition, senior Melissa Perkins became the first CUW pitcher to reach 50 career wins, earning the victory in each game of the sweep.

THE BASICS
- Final Scores: Concordia Wisconsin 9, Marian 1 (Game 1 – F/6); Concordia Wisconsin 6, Marian 4 (Game 2 – F/8)
- Location: Smith Field – Fond du Lac, Wis.
- Records: Concordia Wisconsin 14-10, 6-2 NACC; Marian 17-9, 6-4 NACC

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
- The Falcons used a couple of big innings and another gem from Perkins in the circle to down the Sabres via the eight-run rule in game one. CUW put up three in the second, four in the fifth and added two runs in the sixth for the win. Perkins tossed six innings, allowing six hits and just one run, while striking out five.

- Sophomore Jamie Reiser (Ingleside, Ill.) got the Falcons on the board with a two-run double in the second. She was one of three Falcons to tally two hits in the opener, sophomore Deidra Weinberger (Mayville, Wis.) and freshman Kendra Little (Hudson, Wis.) the others. All three players drove in two runs as well with Weinberger adding a double.

- Freshman Delaney O'Keefe (Muskego, Wis.) and sophomore Christine Sharon (Cornell, Mich.) each scored two runs for CUW in the opener. All-in-all the Falcons had seven players record a hit and seven players score a run in the opener.

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
- CUW scored four runs in the second in game two, but saw Marian score two each in the third and fifth frames, forcing extra innings. The Falcons responded with the go-ahead double from Holsten (Oshkosh, Wis.), scoring sophomore Allison Peters (Elk Grove, Ill.). Zazas (Mundelein, Ill.) then gave the Falcons some insurance, doubling in Holsten for the 6-4 lead.

- Perkins got the win, the 51st of her career, with a dominant three innings of relief. She struck out five, while allowing just one hit and keeping the Sabres off the board. Sophomore Emily Brekke (Waterford, Wis.) struck out five as well in five innings as the starting pitcher.

- Zazas drove in two for the Falcons in the game two win, while O'Keefe and Sharon paced the team with two hits apiece. Holsten was the only CUW player to score twice.

UP NEXT
- The Falcons will return home tomorrow when they welcome in defending NACC championship and current league-unbeaten Aurora to the CUW Softball Field. First pitch is set for noon.