Softball sweeps Benedictine to stay in NACC driver’s seat

MEQUON, Wis. – The Falcons brought out the brooms in the battle of the two highest winning percentages in the NACC on Saturday. The Blue and White downed the Eagles to the tune of a 7-3, 4-2 sweep. The two victories keep CUW in first place in the NACC Standings at 14-2, two games ahead of MSOE at 12-4. The Falcons soar to 19-8 on the year and send the Eagles to 22-12 and 8-8 in NACC play.

The Saturday sweep of Benedictine is the first since 2015.

Senior Samantha Schumacher (Freedom, Wis.) sent the message it would be a hard day for the Eagles on the base paths with a laser to catch Ashley Fisher stealing to end the first inning. Schumacher did not allow a stolen base the entire game.

The Falcons grabbed the lead in the Battle of the Birds in the first inning with back-to-back home runs from senior Maddie Zazas (Mundelein, Ill.) and sophomore Jenna Pozezinski (Lake Villa, Ill.).

The Eagles took the lead on three runs in the third inning.

Jenna Pozezinski took the lead back with one swing of the bat that sent the ball over the fence to score Maddie Zazas in the third inning.

Freshman Gina Followell (Romeoville, Ill.) added to the third-inning scoring with a sacrifice fly that scored junior Emma Schimberg (Random Lake, Wis.).

Freshman Krystal Cortes (Aurora, Ill.) then singled gone the right-field line to score senior Becky Bonnin (Kenosha, Wis.).

In the fifth inning, Cortes scored sophomore Heather Renard (Wrightstown, Wis.) on a ground out. After Renard had a triple down the right-field line.

Gina Followell posted another strong outing in the circle, with five strikeouts and zero earned runs.

Maddie Zazas had three of the CUW hits in game one and was honored between games for breaking the school record for career hits on Friday.

The Eagles swooped in early to score a run in the first inning of game two to take the lead.

Junior Molly O'Connell (New London, Wis.) put the Falcons ahead in the third inning with a two-run home run that scored freshman Taylor Kuske (Kaukauna, Wis.).

In the fourth inning, Emma Schimberg singled to center field to score senior Sara Rosenow (Kimberly, Wis.). Heather Renard then singled up the middle to score Schimberg.

Benedictine added a run in the sixth inning on a single, but it would not be enough.

Freshman Nicki Becker (Brodhead, Wis.) notched three strikeouts in her fifth victory of the year.

The Falcons will fly south on Monday to take on Concordia Chicago.

The Blue and White need one victory in the final six NACC games or a Lakeland or CUC loss to clinch a spot in the NACC Tournament.