Softball Overwhelms No. 12 Oshkosh and Lawrence

OSHKOSH, Wis. – The Falcons remained unblemished on the season with victories over No. 12 Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Lawrence. The Blue and White move to 6-0 on the season.

The Falcons started the day with a 5-0 victory over the 12^th-ranked Titans of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

The birds threatened early on Saturday when junior Sydney Erdmann (Geneva, Ill.) reached third base after drawing the leadoff walk.

Freshman Megan Bloyer (Oregon, Wis.) made it to third base in the fourth inning after a double and an error.

Senior Gina Followell (Romeoville, Ill.) started the day with nine-straight strikeouts.

The Titans had their first base runner in the fourth inning, but the Falcons stranded her at third base.

The Falcons finally cracked the Oshkosh defense in the seventh inning.

Senior Kelsey Bollon (Orangeville, Ill.) had a shot into the gap in left-center field to score junior Ashley Zappa (Zion, Ill.) and junior Abby Kerrins (Collum, Ill.).

Junior Claudia Utz (Lockport, Ill.) then blasted the ball to left field to send Sydney Erdmann across home plate.

Freshman Jess Pozezinski (Lake Villa, Ill.) then sent the ball flying down the left-field line to score senior Taylor Kuske (Kaukauna, Wis.) and Kelsey Bollon.

Followell closed the door on the Titans with two strikeouts and a pop-up to secure the victory. She improved to 3-0 on the year with the victory and finished with 15 strikeouts.

Sydney Erdmann, Jess Pozezinski and Megan Bloyer all had two hits.

The Falcons left the dome with a 9-0 victory on Saturday.

The birds scored early and often in game two.

Taylor Kuske started the scoring in the first inning with a single to center field that scored Sydney Erdmann.

Claudia Utz not only shined behind the plate, but she also rocked a triple to the gap in right-center field to send in Taylor Kuske and sophomore Madison Wheat.

Jess Pozezinski landed the rare ground-rule double in left field to land Utz on the scoreboard.

A single up the middle from junior Gabbi Gaziano (Beloit, Wis.) later scored Pozezinski.

Ashley Zappa secured the final run of the first inning when she singled to shortstop and Gabbi Gaziano crossed home plate safely.

Taylor Kuske struck again in the second inning on a double into the gap in left field. Kuske later scored on a throwing error from the pitcher on an Utz single.

Claudia Utz closed the scoring on Saturday with a double down the left-field line that scored freshman Amber Behr (Oak Creek, Wis.) from first base.

Senior Nicki Becker (Brodhead, Wis.) continued her dominance in the circle with a no-hitter performance. She threw a career-high 13 strikeouts in the victory.

Claudia Utz led the flock with three of the 12 hits in game two. She also kept the very few base runners on Saturday glued to the base and did not allow a single base to be stolen.

The Falcons will fly south and take on Bethel and Millsaps on Saturday in Clermont, Florida.