Softball posts an undefeated season
MEQUON, Wis. – The CUW softball season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. The Falcons were able to post a perfect 4-0 record with victories at the Finlandia Dome Classic.
The Falcons posted the first-ever undefeated season in program record with victories over Northland, Finlandia, Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Wisconsin-Superior.
CUW started the year with a 10-0 victory over Northland. Sophomore Gina Followell (Romeoville, Ill.) threw a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts. Sophomore Krystal Cortes (Aurora, Ill.) had three of CUW's 14 hits.
The Blue and White then kept Finlandia off the scoreboard in an 8-0 victory. Sophomore Nicki Becker (Brodhead, Wis.) head seven strikeouts in the victory with sophomore Alyssa Vilkoski (Greenfield, Wis.) adding two more strikeouts in relief. Junior Kelsey Bollon (Orangeville, Ill.) led the flock with three hits, while senior Emma Schimberg (Random Lake, Wis.) secured two RBI. Senior Molly O'Connell (New London, Wis.) sank the Lions with two runs on two hits.
The Pointers proved to be the toughest challenge in the 2020 campaign with a 6-5 battle. Senior Samantha Schloegl (Genoa City, Wis.) led CUW with two hits. Junior Jenna Pozezinski (Lake Villa, Ill.) secured three RBI in the victory. Gina Followell fanned eight batters in the start and Nicki Becker earned the victory with three strikeouts.
In what turned out to be the final game of the year, CUW cruised to an 8-0 victory over UW-Superior. Krystal Cortes finished with two hits and four RBI. Freshman Claudia Utz (Lockport, Ill.) also added three runs. Nicki Becker picked up her third victory of the season.
The Falcons brought in a handful of honors for their 4-0 performance.
Nicki Becker was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament and the NACC Pitcher of the Week after posting a 3-0 record in the circle on the weekend. She also recorded 12 strikeouts and a 0.00 earned-run average.
Krystal Cortes was named to the All-Tournament Team and the NACC Position Player of the Week after she led CUW with six hits, including two doubles. She also notched three RBI and two walks.
Three other Falcons were named to the Finlandia Dome Classic All-Tournament Team. Molly O'Connell made her second appearance on the Dome Classic All-Tournament Team. Kelsey Bollon finished the season with six hits, including two doubles. She also led the flock with five RBI. Gina Followell earned a victory in the circle and had 19 strikeouts.
Samantha Schloegl and freshman Sydney Erdmann (Geneva, Ill.) both stole three bases on the year. Schloegl also led CUW with six runs.
The Falcons were statistical national champions in nine categories. As a team, CUW led NCAA Division III in doubles per game (3.50), hit batters (1), strikeout-to-walk ratio (16.50) and win-loss percentage (1.000). Individually, Molly O'Connell led the nation with 1.00 doubles per game, Nicki Becker had a 0.00 earned-run average, Gina Followell had one hit batter and 0.00 walks allowed per seven innings. Taylor Kuske, Kelsey Bollon, Samantha Schloegl and Sydney Erdmann were the toughest to strike out with zero strikeouts.
The Falcons will look to soar again in the 2021 season.
