Brekke's no-hitter highlights Softball sweep of Marian

MEQUON, Wis. – Emily Brekke entered Saturday's doubleheader against Marian as one of the top pitchers in the NACC, ranking in the top two in most pitching categories. She only strengthened her case as one of the league's best pitchers Saturday, picking up the win in both games of a sweep over Marian. Brekke threw her second career no-hitter in an 8-0 game one win and followed that with three scoreless relief innings in a 3-2 game two victory.

THE BASICS
- Final Scores: CUW 8, Marian 0 (Game One); CUW 3, Marian 2 (Game Two)
- Location: CUW Softball Field – Mequon, Wisconsin
- Records: CUW 21-7, 10-2 NACC; Marian 19-9, 7-5 NACC

BREKKE AND O'CONNELL POSTGAME

CUW 8, MARIAN 0 (GAME ONE)
- Brekke (Waterford, Wis.) continued her dominating pitching Saturday by striking out eight batters in five innings as the Falcons ended game one early with the eight-run rule. Brekke allowed only one runner on base with a walk in the top of the fourth but other than that it was perfection from the junior right-hander.

- CUW started off the game with four hits in the bottom of the first but couldn't capitalize as one runner was caught stealing and the Falcons lined into an inning-ending double play. It took until the fourth for the Falcons to get on the board, but it was a big fourth inning as seven runs crossed the plate. Allison Peters (Elk Grove, Ill.) and Maddie Zazas (Mundelein, Ill.) started the rally with RBI singles.

- The big hit of the inning came by the way of Carly Sobrilsky (Brookfield, Wis.) who cleared the bases with a double to right center. Later in the inning, the Falcons scored on an error, one of three miscues for the Sabres in the seven-run frame.

- Brekke finished off the top of the fifth by retiring the side in order for the fourth time in the contest, striking out two and getting the last out on a popup to herself. CUW ended the game thanks to Zazas' single down the left field line, scoring Sara Rosenow (Kimberly, Wis.).

- Zazas and Sobrilsky each collected three hits to pace the Falcons in the opener. Rosenow scored a team-best two runs.

CUW 3, MARIAN 2 (GAME TWO)
- Pitching was a big part of the game two win as well as Molly O'Connell (New London, Wis.) threw four strong before handing the ball over to Brekke for the final nine outs. Brekke entered with the game tied at two, so her scoreless three innings with five strikeouts allowed her to reach her 12th win of the season.

- Concordia Wisconsin opened up offensively in a similar way to game one. It wasn't until the third inning where the Falcons got on the board, plating two.

- O'Connell started the frame with a shot out to right-center for a double, which set up Deidra Weinberger (Mayville, Wis.) who came through and moved O' Connell over to third with a base hit to right. The Falcons later cashed in on a Jamie Reiser (Ingleside, Ill.) two-RBI single, building a 2-0 lead.

- However, the Sabres would not going to go away and showed it in the top of the fourth as they answered with two runs to tie the game.

- With the game tied at two and runners at the corner in the bottom of the fifth, head coach Steve Crook asked Sobrilsky to do something she hasn't had to do much of in her collegiate career: bunt. Sobrilsky delivered by executing the squeeze play perfectly, scoring Zazas for the 3-2 lead. That would be all Brekke needed to complete the sweep.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Brekke threw the second no-hitter of her career. Brekke's other no-hitter came last year on April 22nd against Mount Mary. On Saturday, just one ball left the infield for the Sabres.

- CUW has now won 16 straight home games dating back last season. The last time the Falcons lost at home was April 17 of last year against Aurora.

UP NEXT
- The Falcons will play Aurora on Monday in a doubleheader featuring two of the three teams tied atop the NACC standings. First pitch in Aurora is set for 3 p.m.