Falcons Finish NFCA Leadoff Classic with a Bang

COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Concordia Wisconsin softball team wrapped up one of the toughest tournaments in NCAA Division III at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Leadoff Classic on Sunday afternoon. No. 9 Virginia Wesleyan started the day with an 11-2 victory over the Falcons to open the day. The Blue and White rallied to defeat Mary Hardin-Baylor, 9-6, to improve to 4-4 on the young season.

Freshman Gianna Carone (Crystal Lake, Ill.) did a great job of keeping the Marlins' bats cold to start the day and had two strikeouts in the start.

Senior Claudia Utz (Lockport, Ill.) started the CUW scoring with a single to left field in the third inning that plated senior Madi Wheat (Coweta, Okla.) from second base.

Freshman Kylie Strupp (Slinger, Wis.) struck out two batters in relief.

The Falcons scored the final run of the game with a home run from junior Jasmine Freeze (Bolingbrook, Ill.) to center field.

Concordia closed the tournament against the Crusaders of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

The Cru' took advantage of an error in the first inning to take the early lead.

The birds bounced back in the bottom of the first inning when junior Megan Bloyer (Oregon, Wis.) blasted a double to right field to score senior Sydney Erdmann (Geneva, Ill.) and Claudia Utz.

Jasmine Freeze notched her second home run of the day with a missile over the left-field fence.

Junior Jess Pozezinski (Lake Villa, Ill.) added to the lead in the third inning with another home run to left field.

The Cru' clawed back with five runs in the sixth inning to take a 6-4 lead.

The Falcons cut the deficit in half with the first collegiate home run for Kaitlyn Way in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The birds went into the bottom half of the seventh inning needing a run to tie the game.

Claudia Utz got the ball rolling with a single to center field to start the rally. A single up the middle from Megan Bloyer advanced Utz to second base. Senior Gabbi Gaziano (Beloit, Wis.) then singled to left field to fill the bases. Jasmine Freeze then cleared the bases with a grand slam to left field to win the game.

Freshman Emma Shellstrom (San Diego, Calif.) had a strikeout in the start and Jasmine Freeze picked up her second victory in the circle.

Sydney Erdmann stole two bases in the victory.

Megan Bloyer was a perfect four-for-four at the plate in game two.

Sunday was the second multi-home run game for Freeze in her career, the other was the April 28, 2023 game against Lakeland.

The Falcons close Spring Break action on Wednesday at LaGrange.