Softball Splits With Spartans

MEQUON, Wis. – Saturday saw the CUW softball squad split a doubleheader with the Spartans of Aurora University with scores of 2-8 and 9-6 to move their record to 11-9 overall and 5-3 in conference action.  

After Aurora took a 3-0 lead in the game one's first inning, CUW was able to scratch two runs in the bottom of the second. 

With two outs, junior Jasmine Freeze (Bolingbrook, Ill.) singled up the middle to give CUW their first base runner of the inning. In the subsequent event, senior Gabbi Gaziano (Beloit, Wis.) was hit by a pitch. Then, a single from sophomore Rylie DuVal (Elgin, Ill.) would load the bases for freshman Kaitlyn Way (Blaine, Minn.). 

With runners in scoring position, Way knocked a single up the middle, scoring Freeze and Gaziano to make the score 3-2. 

Despite their best efforts, CUW was ultimately kept scoreless for the remainder of the contest and fell 2-8.

In game one, Jess Pozezinski (Lake Villa, Ill.) had a team-high two hits. 

Defensively, freshman Gianna Carone (Crystal Lake, Ill.) faced 22 batters and recorded two strikeouts, while junior Adrianna Martinez (Chicago, Ill.) had one strikeout and faced nine batters.

In her inning of pitching, freshman Kylie Strupp (Slinger, Wis.) kept the Spartans hitless and went three-up and three-down on eight pitches.

Like the first game, Aurora was first to scratch a run and took a 5-0 lead after two innings of action. 

Determined to avenge their loss, CUW gradually made a comeback, clawing back two runs in the bottom of the third. 

With a runner on second, Jess Pozezinski got a hold of a ball and sent it deep to center field for a two-run home run. 

After a quick top of the fourth, CUW's bats continued to make noise, as Gabbi Gaziano doubled to left center to lead off the inning, while Adrianna Martinez singled in the next at-bat. 

After Martinez stole second, CUW had runners on second and third, with senior Lexi Bridenhagen (Neenah, Wis.) up to bat, who smacked the ball deep to right field for the sacrifice fly RBI, scoring Gaziano.

Senior Sydney Erdmann (Geneva, Ill.) singled down the left field line, sending Martinez across home plate, as CUW now trailed by only one, 4-5.

Behind the pitching of Jasmine Freeze, the Falcons quickly came in to hit. 

With runners on second and third, Gabbi Gaziano singled up the middle, bringing home Jess Pozezinski and junior Megan Bloyer (Oregon, Wis.), to give CUW their first lead of the day, 6-5.  

The runs would continue to pour in for CUW in the bottom of the fifth, as sophomore Taylor Jacobson (Kenosha, Wis.) singled through the left side to extend Concordia's lead to 7-5. 

After an Aurora pitching change, Sydney Erdmann once again went opposite field and singled down the left field line for another RBI, earning the Falcons an 8-5 lead.

After a scoreless top of the sixth, the bottom half of the inning saw Megan Bloyer give CUW some insurance with a homer to left center as they now led 9-5 with one inning to go. 

Despite the comeback efforts from the Spartans, CUW was able to squash it and secure the 9-6 victory.

In the victory, six different Falcons put together multi-hit performances as Sydney Erdmann, senior Madi Wheat (Coweta, Okla.), Jess Pozezinski, Megan Bloyer, Gabbi Gaziano, and Adrianna Martinez all had two. 

Jasmine Freeze ultimately picked up the win to improve to 3-1 on the year as she went five complete innings and only gave up one run on 20 batters faced. 

Concordia will have a quick turnaround and remain at Catalyst Park, as they host the formidable Raiders of MSOE in a doubleheader, with the first pitch scheduled for noon and 2:00 p.m.