Box Scores - Game 1, Game 2
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – Behind the right arm of
Cherise Waltz, the Marian University softball team turned in two shutout victories, beating Alverno College 3-0 and 6-0, to move to 3-1 after the first weekend of Northern Athletics Conference play this afternoon, April 1.
Waltz (6-7, 2.89 ERA) allowed just seven hits in 14 innings of work on the afternoon. It was a combined effort as her teammates played great behind her and offensive, scoring nine runs on 17 hits on the day.
Emily Boehnlein hit her fourth homerun of the season, a solo shot, in game, while
Emilie Jansen collected her third homer of the year in game two.
Marian improves to 8-10 overall, 3-1 in NAC play, while Alverno falls to 5-7 (2-4 NAC).
Waltz finished game one by retiring 13 of the final 14 batters she faced. After an Alverno scoring threat in the first inning, the Inferno wasn't able to get another runner into scoring position for the rest of the game.
The game remained scoreless until the third inning when Boehnlein homered to lead off the frame. She then connected on a one out double in the fifth to lead a charge that led to two insurance runs. Boehnlein eventually scored on a throwing error by the pitcher.
Liz Schaller then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jansen.
Erin Dulek pitched a wail of a game for Alverno, going the distance and allowing three runs (1 earned) on just seven hits.
In game two, Marian wasted no time getting on the board. After two straight groundouts to third base to start the game, Jansen came up and blasted a homerun to right field to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead.
Nikki Ponticelli added another run for the Sabres with a run-scoring single up the middle in the fourth. Marian then broke it wide open with four runs on five hits in the sixth, highlighted by run-scoring singles by Ponticelli and
Katlin Jarvis.
Meanwhile, from the second inning on, Waltz put on a clinic. She retired 16 in a row before Chelsea Gulbronson singled through the right side with two outs in the seventh inning. But Waltz didn't let it disrupt her rhythm as she struck out the last batter, Lauren Collette, swinging to end the game.
Marian will enjoy a day off before playing host to conference rival Concordia Wisconsin in a doubleheader at Smith Fields Tuesday, April 3. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
