No. 14 Softball Slices Aurora in the NACC Tournament

MONTGOMERY, Ill. – The 14^th-ranked Falcons opened the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament with a convincing 8-0 victory over the host Spartans of Aurora. The victory propelled Concordia to 35-3 on the season.

The Falcons started the evening with a defensive stand in the first inning. With a pair of runners on, senior Gina Followell (Romeoville, Ill.) shut the door with a pair of strikeouts.

Sophomore Megan Bloyer (Oregon, Wis.) drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning with a single to left field to score senior Sydney Erdmann (Geneva, Ill.).

Senior Gabbi Gaziano (Beloit, Wis.) then singled through the left side of the infield to plate senior Claudia Utz (Lockport, Ill.).

The Black and Blue threatened again in the third inning with runners on second and third base. Followell finished Talaga off with a strikeout to end the threat.

The birds blew open the game with six runs in the third inning.

Claudia Utz started the attack with a single up the middle that scored junior Madi Wheat (Coweta, Okla.).

A thunderous smack of the back from Gabbi Gaziano sent the ball into the gap in right-center field to score sophomore KianaMarie Taccad (Chicago, Ill.) and Claudia Utz on a double.

Senior Ashley Zappa (Zion, Ill.) sent the ball to left field on a single that scored Gabbi Gaziano.

Sophomore Adrianna Martinez (Chicago, Ill.) singled up the middle to send Ashley Zappa home.

Madi Wheat closed the scoring with a single up the middle that scored Martinez.

Sydney Erdmann, Madi Wheat and Gabbi Gaziano all had two hits in the victory.

Gina Followell silenced the Spartans with 11 strikeouts and only three hits on the evening.

Dominican defeated MSOE in the other second-round game and the Falcons are scheduled to play the Stars at 6:00 on Friday.