Concordia-St. Paul (27-12, 6-1 NSIC) swept Wayne State (12-25, 4-6), defeating them 9-1 in five innings in game one and 4-1 in game two Friday afternoon at Dunning Field. Kristen Schmidt improved to 16-5, tossing a one-hitter in the first game, while Allison Paitich won her fifth-straight decision in game two to improve to 9-7 on the season.
The Bears fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, as the Wildcats were able to manufacture an unearned run off of Schmidt without recording a hit. That was the only time they would cross the plate.
In the second inning, Kelly Schwietz jacked a double over the center fielder's head, driving in Schmidt, who led off with a walk. Schwietz came around to score on Tracie Enzler's double down the left-field line. Enzler also crossed the plate, giving the Bears a three-run second inning and a 3-1 lead.
With two outs in the fourth inning, Shannon Miller stepped up with a bases clearing double to left-center field, driving in three runs and giving Concordia a commanding 6-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Enzler came up with another big hit, sending a two-run single up the middle, giving the Bears their third three-run inning, ending the game with a 9-1 score with two outs in the fifth inning.
Miller and Enzler each finished with three RBIs, with Enzler going 2-2 with a walk and two runs scored at the plate. Schwietz ended up 2-3, scoring two runs and driving in one.
Schmidt tossed a complete game, a one-hitter, striking out seven with just one walk. The only run she allowed was unearned, dropping her season ERA to 1.26.
Miller and Schwietz continued their run production in game two, as each player had a RBI single in the first inning, driving in Jennifer Pozzani and Vanessa Dufresne to give the Bears an early 2-0 lead.
They added two more in the fifth with run-scoring singles by Dufresne and Schwietz, putting CU ahead by four.
That was more than enough for Paitich, who didn't allow a run until the seventh inning, as she recorded her 12th complete game of the season. She scattered eight hits over seven innings, walking just one while striking out seven.
Schwietz finished the doubleheader 4-6 with three RBIs and two runs. Miller went 3-5 with four RBIs in the two games, and Pozzani, the leadoff hitter, scored three runs while drawing three walks in the doubleheader.
The Bears extend their winning streak to eight games, are winners of 14 of their last 15, and have a record of 20-2 over their last 22 games.
They return to action this weekend in Moorhead, Minn. for the second NSIC Crossover. They will take on Bemidji State and Northern State on Friday before facing Minnesota Crookston and MSU Moorhead on Saturday.
