The Dominican University softball team shook the dust off their cleats after a near two-week break between games, sweeping a doubleheader from the North Park University Vikings in Chicago on Saturday afternoon to run their winning streak to 14 games.
 
Sophomore lefthander improved to 11-2 in the circle, picking up wins in both ends of the twin bill.  The second-year standout totaled 11 innings on the day, surrendering just four earned runs to lower her earned run average to 2.28.
 
"I was really proud of our team today," commented head coach Cristina Lukas following her team's sweep.  "Our pitchers threw well despite some less than ideal conditions and our bench came through in some key situations.  As a whole, when we stuck to our game plan we executed extremely well."
 
The Stars are now 15-3 on the season heading into Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play.  Dominican will open league action on Thursday when the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons visit the Stars at the Ballpark in Rosemont.  First pitch of the doubleheader series is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
 
Game One: Dominican 7, North Park 1
 
Freshman Katie Fredrick staked Kuderna to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when she singled to left to score Ali Woitovich.  The Stars then added four runs in the top of the third, capitalizing on a Vikings' fielding gaffe.  The big blow in the inning was a RBI double by Gabi Alfaro.  Alfaro added another RBI in the fifth with a sacrifice fly and the Stars' lead grew to 7-0 in the top of the seventh when Alfaro came around on a double by Marissa Burns.
 
In the field, Kuderna scattered four hits over the first four innings before giving way to junior left-hander Michele Behrens.  Behrens threw three solid innings to pick up her second save of the season.  The Frankfort native allowed just one run on three hits and one walk.
 
Alfaro and Jacadi Rivera collected two hits apiece as the Stars tallied nine hits as a team.
 
Game Two: Dominican 9, North Park 4
 
Trailing 2-0 into the top of the sixth inning, Alfaro hammered a solo home run to lead off the inning and spark a seven run rally for the Stars.  Rivera later drove in a run with a single with the bases loaded and Abby Maike followed with a two-run single of her own and Fredrick then knocked in two runs with a single and later scored on a sacrifice fly to close the rally.
 
After the Vikings got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, Dominican tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh, stringing together three hits with one out, including a two-run single by Rivera.
 
Kudera went the distance in the circle in game two, surrendering four runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out two.
 
At the plate, the Stars managed 12 hits including two apiece for Maike and Rivera.