Softball season ends with NACC Tournament setback against Benedictine

MILWAUKEE – Another strong season for the Concordia University Wisconsin Softball team came to an end Saturday. The Falcons fell in a NACC Tournament battle against Benedictine, 4-2, ending their season with a 26-17 record. Benedictine advances to face Aurora in the NACC Championship.

THE BASICS
- Final Score: Benedictine 4, Concordia Wisconsin 2
- Location: Alverno – Milwaukee, Wis.
- Records: Concordia Wisconsin 26-17; Benedictine 31-14

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Falcons jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second thanks to an RBI single from junior Lexi Holsten (Oshkosh, Wis.). Freshman Sara Rosenow (Kimberly, Wis.), who walked to start the rally with two outs and then stole second, scored on the Holsten single.

- Benedictine answered right back with a three-run top of the third. Shannon Fritsche hit a two-RBI double in the frame for Benedictine and later scored on a passed ball, making the score 3-1. The Eagles would add to their lead with a solo home run by Kailee Cable in the top of the fifth.

- Sophomore Christine Sharon (Cornell, Mich.) belted a solo home run of her own in the bottom of the sixth, cutting into the Benedictine lead. That would be it for CUW, however, as the Eagles would hold on for the 4-2 win. Both Sharon and Holsten finished with two hits to pace the Falcons attack.

- Senior Melissa Perkins (Park Forest, Ill.) saw her brilliant career come to an end with another complete game effort. Perkins, who finished with a program-record 58 wins, including 16 in three of four seasons, allowed four runs, three earned, in seven innings.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Falcons won 25-plus games for the fifth time in the past six seasons. They have won 25 or more games six times under head coach Steve Crook, all coming since 2009. The Falcons also earned the No. 2 seed in this NACC Tournament, the best seed for the program in the 10-year history of the league.