The Briar Cliff softball team won their seventh straight game and 20th of the season Thursday with a sweep of Dakota Wesleyan. The Chargers won game one in the Dordt ASB Dome 2-0 and took game two in five innings 8-0.

"Defensively, our team came out very strong today," said head coach Erin Bly. "Aubrey Chichurka really played a sound third base to keep a lot of the DWU lefties off the field. In game one, Maddi Duncan stayed very tough through seven innings and made some big pitches when we needed them. Offensively we put pressure on their defense every inning and Callie Billings really showed great leadership scoring when we needed her most."

Game 1 – W, 2-0
Maddi Duncan continued her phenomenal start to her freshman season at the Cliff. She earned her 11th win and threw her eighth complete game of the season. She struck out eight batters, while allowing just four hits and one walk.

Between the third and sixth innings, the Tigers were able to advance runners to scoring positions. However, Duncan, with the help of her defense, ended all four innings without allowing a run. She punched the third out in two of the innings with strikeouts and forced fly outs in the other two frames.

In the bottom of the second, Kennedy Andersen drew a walk to lead off the inning. Back-to-back singles via bunts from Sydney Lierman and Jessica James loaded the bases. A Charger strikeout, followed by a fielder's choice that threw out the runner at home, brought Billings up with two outs. The senior outfielder doubled, driving in two runs to give the Chargers a 2-0 lead.

Looking to close out the shutout win, Duncan retired the side with three straight strikeouts in the top of the seventh.

Lierman and James each tallied two hits to lead the Cliff, while Billings recorded the only extra base hit for BC.

Game 2 – W, 8-0 (five innings)
"Game two, our bats really ignited and we were able to hit and play small ball really well," said Bly. "Kylee and Kennedy had some great at bats while Kately Kotlarz did a very good job of holding DWU to one hit. Overall great team wins!"

Dakota Wesleyan threatened to score in the top of the first, advancing a runner to third base after a wild pitch and passed ball. Kotlarz, however, forced three straight DWU outs including a pair of strikeouts.

After a Billings walk and advance by a wild pitch, Ali Naumann grounded out to the second baseman moving Billings to third. Billings would score on the play after an errant throw by the first baseman, giving the Chargers a 1-0 lead. Lukes added the second run of the inning with a solo home run to left-center field.

Kotlarz settled in to the contest by recording six straight outs with four via strikeout.

The Chargers exploded with six runs in the bottom of the fourth, with six different players tallying an RBI.

Kotlarz recorded the first two outs of the fifth, and Morgan Jones closed out the 8-0 run-rule win with a strikeout.

Lierman and Lukes recorded two hits each, while Montie Richter and Isabel Sayler each stole a base.

Kotlarz earns the win after throwing 4.2 innings with eight strikeouts.

The Chargers are back in action Saturday at the Presentation College Dome in Aberdeen, South Dakota where they face Jamestown. First pitch for game one is set for 4:00 p.m.