PLYMOUTH, Wis. – It was a wild, wacky, heated and downright exhausting Sunday afternoon, but the Concordia Wisconsin softball team reeled in a pair of wins and served up a sweep at Lakeland's expense. The Falcons improved to 5-1 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference and 13-7 overall with 4-3 and 5-3 victories over the Muskies.
The first runner in scoring position came from junior Jenna Shadoski (Janesville, Wis.), who reached second on a throwing error by the Lakeland catcher.
The Falcons threatened again in the second inning when senior Julia Moker (Richfield, Wis.) laced a ball that looked destined to plate a run, but a tough break — was thwarted by a collision by a Falcon just running to the base.
Concordia finally got on the board in the third inning when senior Maggie Plahmer (Slinger, Wis.) stayed white-hot, blasting her second home run in as many days to hook in Rylie DuVal and junior Jenna Lischka (Manitowoc, Wis.).
Lakeland responded with a run in the bottom half, but the Falcons kept casting chances. Freshman Hope Hughes (Joliet, Ill.) sparked the fourth with a triple to right field, but could not get across home plate.
Despite threats in the fifth and sixth innings, the Muskies managed to keep Concordia off the board — barely slipping off the hook.
Lakeland made things interesting in the seventh, tying the game and putting the winning run on third, but freshman Faith Keiper (Tomball, Texas) wasn't biting — striking out the final batter to force extras.
Extra innings? For a second-straight day!
The Falcons threatened in the eighth and ninth, but the bad luck continued for the Birds like being struck in the head while on the base path, but we will move to the 10th inning.
Julia Moker kicked off the 10th with a clutch double to left. Jenna Shadoski followed with a perfectly placed bunt, catching the defense napping and putting runners on the corners — then did what the internet said is impossible: stole second.
With two in scoring position, Rylie DuVal delivered, grounding out to bring Moker home for the go-ahead run.
Lakeland loaded the bases in the bottom half, but the Falcons didn't let the Muskies off the hook — a fly ball to left sealed the victory as Concordia netted game one.
Junior Emme Shellstrom (San Diego, Calif.) started strong with three strikeouts and no walks over five innings. Keiper earned her fifth win with scoreless relief and three strikeouts.
And Jenna Shadoski? A perfect six-for-six — absolutely frying the Muskies at the plate.
Lakeland struck first in game two with a two-run double in the second inning, but Shadoski stayed red-hot, ripping a triple down the left-field line to plate Hope Hughes and Julia Moker.
Jenna Lischka followed with a go-ahead single, giving the Falcons the lead for good. Junior Isa Bruno (Chicago, Ill.) added insurance with a double to right, bringing in DuVal to make it a full-on fish fry.
The Muskies nibbled at the lead with a run in the third and threatened again in the fifth, but Shellstrom shut it down with a pop-up to Hughes.
The Falcons added another run in the sixth when Hughes lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring freshman Meredith Cann (Naperville, Ill.).
Lakeland opened the seventh with back-to-back singles, hoping to make one last splash, but the Falcons slammed the lid shut with three straight flyouts to complete the sweep — hook, line, and sinker.
Isa Bruno and senior Nora Statz (Helenville, Wis.) led the Falcons with two hits each.
Sophomore Peyton Arendt (Waukesha, Wis.) earned her first collegiate win in game two, while Shellstrom came back to close things out and earn the save — officially silencing the Muskies.
The Falcons will look to keep the streak swimming along Saturday when they host Rockford. Tuesday's games against Aurora have been postponed due to weather.
