MILWAUKEE – The opening game of the 2010 Northern Athletics Conference softball tournament between fourth-seeded Lakeland College and No. 5 Concordia University Wisconsin looked as though it would turn into a hitting clinic in the early going, as both teams put up a combined 12 runs in the first two innings with Lakeland leading 8-4.
However, the Muskies quickly found the solution to silencing the Falcons’ bats in their ace pitcher, senior Sara Roberts (Escanaba, Mich.), who threw four scoreless frames and allowed just two runs en route to an 11-5 win over Concordia. Lakeland will move on to face top-seeded Benedictine University tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. while the Falcons will have to wait to find out whom they will face in tomorrow’s third game, pending the outcome of tomorrow's 11 a.m. match-up between No. 2 Aurora University and No. 6 Marian University, who defeated No. 3 Dominican University in a 7-6 thriller in Friday's nightcap.
The Falcons (22-19) pounced on Lakeland’s starting pitcher, freshman Erin Henk (Hoopston, Ill.), right away in the first inning, scoring their first run on the second hit of the game. Freshman Stephanie Brunette (De Pere, Wis./West) belted a lead-off double to bring up senior Jenna DiMaggio (San Diego, Calif./Our Lady of Peace), who singled to notch the Falcons’ first score. Two more runs would score in the inning off two more hits to give the Falcons the early 3-0 lead. Lakeland answered right back in the bottom of the inning to claim a 4-3 lead, highlighted by a 3 RBI home run by sophomore Leah Sheahan (Salem, Wis./Wilmot).
Concordia kicked off the top of the second inning with hits from their first two batters before Roberts came in to relieve Henk. One run would score in the inning on a throwing error, but Roberts got the Muskies through the frame largely unscathed. Lakeland notched four more runs in the bottom of the second, despite starting the inning with two straight strikeouts, thanks to a solo homer by senior KC Blahnik (Gladstone, Mich.), a two base hit by freshman Jenny LaLuzerne (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) and a 2 RBI single by Sheahan.
Lakeland continued to rack up the runs in the fourth and sixth innings, which the Falcons failed to answer until an Emily Bennin (Chilton, Wis.) home run appeared to jump-start Concordia into two more hits. But, Roberts steadily found two more outs to earn her 17th win of the season, allowing six hits and ringing up two strikeouts in the game.
Chelsea Coenen (Wrightstown, Wis.) led the Muskies in the batter’s box with a 3-for-4 effort and two RBI, while Sheahan racked up an efficient five RBI on two hits.
Senior Angela Ward (Cedarburg, Wis.) and Brunette led the Falcons with three hits apiece on four at-bats, while Bennin went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Sophomore Danielle Burke (Burlington, Wis./Waterford) took the loss in the circle for the Falcons, giving up seven hits with eight earned runs in 1.2 innings.
First pitch tomorrow is slated for 9 a.m. between Benedictine and Lakeland followed by an 11 a.m. start for the Aurora/Marian match-up.
Although tomorrow’s forecast calls for rain showers on and off throughout the time period of tomorrow’s five scheduled games at Alverno Field, efforts will be made to ensure that as many games are played as the weather and the conditions of the playing surface will allow. For up-to-date information, please click here.
