RIVER GROVE, Ill. – Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play opened Saturday afternoon with a showdown between the two reigning 2025 champions, Concordia Wisconsin and Dominican. The Falcons flexed their muscles and brought out the brooms, earning 8-5 and 9-4 victories to improve to 9-5 overall and 2-0 in conference play. The Stars fall to 6-10.
The Falcons struck early in game one, plating two runs in the first inning. Junior Jenna Shadoski (Janesville, Wis.) scored on a double steal, while sophomore Anya Weiler (Hudson, Wis.) advanced to second on the same play. Weiler later crossed the plate on a ground ball off the bat of senior Maggie Plahmer (Slinger, Wis.).
Concordia added to its lead in the second inning. Senior Julia Moker (Richfield, Wis.) dropped down a perfectly placed bunt, allowing senior Nora Statz (Helenville, Wis.) to score from second. Later in the frame, the Falcons executed another double steal, with Moker drawing a rundown long enough for junior Jenna Lischka (Manitowoc, Wis.) to swipe home. The Birds capped the inning when senior Rylie DuVal (Elgin, Ill.) put the ball in play to bring home Shadoski.
Dominican trimmed the deficit with two runs in the third, but Concordia responded in the fourth as DuVal delivered a two-out single to center to score Moker. Statz added insurance in the fifth with an RBI single to right, bringing home freshman Meredith Cann (Naperville, Ill.).
Junior Kaitlyn Way (Blaine, Minn.) tacked on another run in the seventh with a gap shot to left that scored Plahmer. The Stars rallied for three runs in the bottom half and brought the tying run to the plate, but the Falcons sealed the win with a groundout to second.
Statz led the offense with three hits, while the Falcons are still wanted by local authorities, stealing seven bags in the opener—three from Shadoski.
In the circle, freshman Faith Keiper (Tomball, Texas) earned the win, striking out four over six innings. Senior Kylie Strupp (Slinger, Wis.) secured the save.
In game two, Concordia once again struck first. Junior Isa Bruno (Chicago, Ill.) delivered a single to left that skipped past the outfielder, allowing Weiler to score from first.
Dominican answered with three runs in the third to take the lead, but the Falcons responded in the fifth. Keiper tied the game with a two-run single down the left-field line, scoring Lischka and Shadoski. Moments later, Statz laced a single down the right-field line to give Concordia a 4-3 advantage as DuVal raced home.
The Falcons broke the game open in the seventh inning with five runs. With the bases loaded, Keiper launched a home run over the centerfield fence, scoring DuVal, Shadoski, and Moker. The grand slam was the first home run of the year for the Falcons. Lischka followed with an RBI single to right-center, bringing home Statz.
Dominican added a run in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Falcons' surge.
DuVal led the second game with three hits. Weiler got the start in the circle, while Keiper picked up the win in relief, allowing just one run and striking out four.
Concordia will open the home portion of its schedule Saturday against Concordia Chicago.
