The Briar Cliff softball team earned a Sunday sweep of Mount Marty in the Dordt ASB Sports Complex. The Chargers ended game one in six innings with a 10-1 run rule, while Katelyn Kotlarz was unhittable in game two leading to a 1-0 extra inning victory.
 
"The team worked really hard to develop a game plan and we executed it beautifully," said head coach Erin Bly. "Our pitchers did a tremendous job keeping us in the game and allowing our offense to do their job. They kept the Mount Marty hitters off balanced and I'm really proud of how they both fought. And it's always nice to get a no-hitter, a big nod to Kate Kotlarz!"
 
"On our fence, we did a great job executing our plan at the plate. The hitters knew what they needed to attack, and they did so with focused aggression," said Bly. "What a day for Ali Naumann. All in all, I'm super proud of how we came out, a great team win."
 
Game 1 – W, 10-1 (six innings)
After a 1-2-3 top of the first inning for Maddi Duncan, with a pair of strikeouts, the Chargers helped their ace pitcher out with three first-inning runs in the bottom half.
 
Leadoff hitter Karis Gifford legged out a triple to get the Charger bats going early. Callie Billings followed with a single, scoring Gifford, and advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Billings advanced to third after a passed ball and would score on a Naumann single to left field. Naumann would move to scoring position by stealing second base but would have scored anyways as Kylee Lukes put the Cliff up three runs with a triple to deep center field.
 
Naumann increased the Charger led to five in the bottom half of the second with a single to left field that scored pinch runner Montie Richter and Gifford. Duncan shut down the Lancers in the third inning, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts.
 
Mount Marty scored their lone run of the game in the fourth, but Duncan would quickly end the inning with back-to-back strikeouts. Lukes extended the lead to six, 7-1 with a single that scored Naumann and Gifford. Sydney Lierman scored Kennedy Andersen in the fifth and Aubrey Chichurka drove in two runs in the sixth to end the contest by 10-1 run rule.
 
Naumann, Gifford and Lukes each tallied three hits, while Luke and Naumann had three RBIs. Gifford scored three runs and had a triple.
 
Duncan earned her 10th win of the season (10-2) while allowing just five hits, one run and struck out eight.
 
Game 2 – W, 1-0 (eight innings)
In a game where neither team could put runs on the board, Kotlarz kept the momentum on the side of the Blue and Gold. Kotlarz held the Lancers at bay with her second career no-hitter with 12 strikeouts on the way to her seventh win.
 
The Lancers managed five baserunners in the contest, all via walks, but all five were left stranded on base. The Lancers had runners on second and third in the top of the third but were stymied by a Kotlarz strikeout and a pop out to the shortstop.
 
After being held in check for the first six innings, the Chargers bats had an opportunity to walk off in the seventh. Lukes walked and Chichurka was hit by a pitch, and both runners advanced one base on a Jessica James ground out to the second baseman. With two outs and runners on second and third, the Lancers forced extra innings with a fly out to center field.
 
Kotlarz continued her gem of a performance into extras with a 1-2-3 inning. Gifford singled to center field and was followed by Billings who singled to left. Naumann capped off her big day at the plate with a walk off single to deep center field to secure the 1-0 win.
 
The Chargers totaled six hits as a team and were led by Gifford who recorded two hits.
 
The Chargers improve to 18-6 (2-0 GPAC) on the season and will return to action Tuesday against Dakota Wesleyan at Bishop Mueller Complex. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.