March 28, 2012 - The Concordia Cougar softball team ended a seven-game losing streak in the timeliest of fashions this afternoon, sweeping Dominican University 5-2 and 5-1 in the opening of Northern Athletics Conference play.

In game one, Sami DeFord (South Bend, IN/Marian) scattered two earned runs on six hits over seven innings in picking up her third win of the season. DeFord was staked to an early lead as Concordia struck for a pair of runs in the first. Jenni Jensen (Chicago, IL/Luther North) drew a one-out walk and moved to third when the second baseman mishandled a throw on Taylor Golden's (Chicago, IL/Trinity) sacrifice attempt. Golden stole second and followed Jensen across home plate moments later when Cassie Slechta (Berwyn, IL/Walther Lutheran) worked the count to 3-2 before drilling a single to rightfield.

The Cougars added an unearned run in the third before making it 4-0 in the fourth. With two out and nobody on, Caitlin Richards (Chicago, IL/Mother McAuley) doubled to left-center. Olivia Hires (Denver, CO/Bear Creek) was hit by a pitch, and Jensen's infield single filled the sacks with Cougars. Golden was next, and she hit a grounder toward leftfield. The shortstop ranged to her right to get a glove on the ball but did not have a play anywhere as Hires crossed the plate.

Dominican got on the board against DeFord in the sixth, but Golden came up with a huge play to keep the damage at one run. The bases were loaded with one out when Melissa Summaria hit a one-hopper to third. Golden gloved the ball and tagged the runner on third who was only a step or two off the base. Golden then ran back to touch third base ahead of the runner coming from second to complete a rare unassisted ground ball double play.

Fittingly, Golden drove home Concordia's final run in the bottom of the inning after Hires had singled and moved up on Jensen's sacrifice. The Stars scored in the seventh on a two-out single by Sarah Budz, but Hires made a sparkling running catch on Corinne Wimmer's shot toward the gap to close out the Cougars' first-game win.

In game two, Sarah Dec (Norridge, IL/Guerin Prep) earned her first win in a Concordia uniform with five shutout innings. Dec allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out three.

The Cougars did most of their damage in the third inning with two out. Renee Benjamin's (Chicago, IL/Mather)single scored Felicity Woodson (Cathedral City, CA/H.S.) with the game's first run. Moments later, the Cougars caught a huge break when Golden's high infield pop was dropped by the Stars' third baseman. Benjamin was running with two out and scored on the error for a 2-0 lead.

Slechta kept the rally going with a single and moved up to second when the Stars tried to catch Golden going to third. That would result in an extra run when Jensen came up next and lined a shot to the fence in center. Jensen was out trying to stretch the hit to a double, but both runners scored before the out, making the score Cougars 4, Stars 0.

The score remained that way until the sixth. Golden was at second with one out when Jensen drove in her third run of the game with a single back up the middle.

Dominican ended the shutout bid in the seventh on a two-out double by Taylor Miller. But DeFord, who followed Dec and Andrea Kelly (Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek) to the pitching circle, retired Erica King on a soft liner to second for the final out.

Concordia (4-12, 2-0 NAC) returns to action Saturday afternoon when they host sister school Concordia Wisconsin.