No. 18 CUW Crushes No. 25 CWRU in Coach Crook’s 500th Victory

CLEVELAND, Ohio – There was a lot to celebrate on Saturday for the 18^th-ranked CUW softball program on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons crushed the No. 25-ranked Spartans of Case Western 13-0 in five innings to improve to 36-4 on the season and clinch a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament Cleveland Regional Final.

The victory on Saturday afternoon was the 500^th in the career of head coach Steve Crook.

Concordia Wisconsin attacked the Spartans early and had five base runners in the first two innings.

The Falcons finally broke the game open with seven runs in the fourth inning.

Freshman Jess Pozezinski (Lake Villa, Ill.) started the fourth-inning shenanigans with a double down the left-field line to score junior Abby Kerrins (Cullom, Wis.) and freshman Megan Bloyer (Oregon, Wis.).

Junior Sydney Erdmann (Geneva, Ill.) then blasted a shot to shortstop that allowed sophomore Madison Wheat (Coweta, Okla.) to cross home plate.

Senior Kelsey Bollon then launched the ball through the left side of the infield that scored Pozezinski.

Megan Bloyer closed the scoring when she crushed a double into the gap in left-center field that cleared the bases of Claudia Utz, Kelsey Bollon and Sydney Erdmann.

Lightning was detected within 10 miles of the stadium so the Falcons and Spartans were delayed for an hour after the fourth inning.

Senior Gina Followell (Romeoville, Ill.) only allowed two hits and finished with four strikeouts in the first four innings. Followell earned her 22^nd victory of the year in the circle.

The Falcons showed no sign of rust after the break when junior Gabbi Gaziano sent the ball flying out of the park as the first batter of the inning.

Senior Taylor Kuske (Kaukauna, Wis.) doubled to left field to clear the bases of sophomore Caitlin Huberty (Coleman, Wis.), Sydney Erdmann and Jess Pozezinski.

Senior Krystal Cortes (Aurora, Ill.) closed the scoring with a shot to shortstop that landed Megan Bloyer and Taylor Kuske on home plate.

Senior Nicki Becker (Brodhead, Wis.) did not allow a hit in the fifth inning to secure the victory.

The birds blasted 11 hits in the victory. Megan Bloyer, Gabbi Gaziano, Sydney Erdmann and Jess Pozezinski all had two hits.

The CUW defense has not allowed a run in the last for games; this is the second time that the Falcons have accomplished that achievement. The first coming on May 1-2, 2011 in sweeps over Dominican and Maranatha.

The 13 runs are the most that Case Western Reserve has allowed this season and the most since a 15-3 loss to No. 23 Emory on April 25, 2017.

The Falcons will face the Spartans again in the regional finals on Sunday at noon for the first pitch.