Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MILWAUKEE – With a sweep of the MSOE Raiders on Sunday, the Dominican University softball team improved to 12-8 in Northern Athletics Conference play and 19-17 overall in their 2012 campaign. With one week of regular season action to go, the Stars are fifth in the NAC standings and hope to secure one of the three remaining spots in the 2012 conference tournament with two more doubleheaders this weekend.  

In Sunday’s game one of the doubleheader, the Stars slowly built a 7-0 lead through six innings as Corinne Wimmer (Elgin, Ill./Larkin) went 3-4 at the plate, reaching each time on a bunt single. Wimmer would also come around to score twice for the Stars, as Melissa Summaria (Algonquin, Ill./Dundee Crown) brought her in for their first score in the first inning, and Andrea Pinarski (Goshen, Ind./Concord) got her second hit in as many chances to bring Wimmer in for the Stars’ fourth score in inning three.

Allie Evans (Greenwood, Ind.) also helped build the Stars’ lead, going 2-4 with two RBIs in the contest, while Emily Mahoney (Crystal Lake, Ill./South) and Sarah Slouber (Willow Springs, Ill./Argo) defended that lead in the circle, taking the Stars through five innings and surrendering just three combined hits without giving up a run.

But the Stars were unable to complete the game one shutout, as MSOE tallied two runs in their last at-bat to bring the game to its final score of 7-2.

In game two, Mahoney and Pinarski were both perfect at the plate (4-4 and 2-2, respectively) with two doubles apiece to lead the Stars to a 10-2 six-inning victory. Also recording doubles in the game were Sarah Budz (Orland Park, Ill./Providence Catholic), Erica King (Lyons, Ill./St. Joseph), and Amanda Moran (River Grove, Ill./East Leyden), each of whom also tallied two RBIs apiece.

Defensively, Mahoney picked up her third win in as many starts, fanning four of six MSOE batters faced before Marissa Gray (Elk Grove, Ill./Conant) and Slouber stepped in for two innings apiece to complete the Stars’ sweep and give them a four-game win streak.

The Stars are next in action in Mequon, Wis., this Saturday, facing off against the Falcons of Concordia Wisconsin, who have already clinched a spot in the 2012 conference tournament. They will then return home for their final regular season doubleheader against Alverno College on Sunday, April 29, when they will also be participating in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s StrikeOut Cancer initiative.