FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University softball team handed Benedictine University only its second Northern Athletics Conference loss of the season, mercy-ruling the Eagles, 11-2, in game two to earn a doubleheader split at Smith Fields on Senior Day this afternoon, April 28.
Despite dropping game one, 7-0,
Cherise Waltz became Marian's new single-season record holder in single season innings pitched, eclipsing the 200-inning mark. Marian put the shutout behind them in game two and rallied 11 runs on 10 hits, including a five-run fifth inning to send everyone home early.
Molly Sippel's three-run double put a ribbon on the nine-run victory.
Marian improved to 19-17 overall, 14-8 in the NAC, while Benedictine fell to 28-9 (20-2 NAC).
In game one, Brittany Adcox had it rolling in the circle for the Eagles. She out-dueled Waltz by going all seven innings, while scattering just four hits and striking out four.
The Sabres had a chance to get on the scoreboard first with two runners in scoring position with two outs in the second, but Adcox got
Daniele Gerth to line out to second base to end the threat.
The Eagles turned it into momentum in the top of the third, scoring four runs on three hits. The rally was capped off with a solo home run to straight-away center field by Kara Walsh.
Benedictine would add another run in the fourth to take a commanding 5-0 lead and two more in the fifth to provide the final tally.
Waltz left after the fifth inning, but not before reaching 200.1 innings pitched on the year, a single-season school-record.
Brooke Koechell came on for the final two innings of work and held the Eagles scoreless.
Game two was a completely different story as Koechell baffled Benedictine hitters. The freshman went the distance, allowing just two runs on eight hits, while striking out one.
Meanwhile, the Eagles went between two pitchers, but it didn't matter for Sabre hitters.
Liz Schaller,
Emilie Jansen and
Nikki Ponticelli each turned in two-hit performances. Ponticelli drove in four runs, while Schaller scored three. Sippel went 1-for-4 with four RBIs in the nightcap.
The Sabres wasted no time, getting to BenU starter, Eryn Pondo, with three runs in the first inning. Senior
Emily Boehnlein singled through the left side to drive in one before Ponticelli drove in two with a single to center.
The lead would stay that way until the top of the third when the Eagles got two runs back on a Chelsea White solo shot and a Brittany Wolski RBI triple to right center.
Marian would have an answer, taking a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third after Pondo walked in a run.
After Ponticelli singled in two more runs in the fourth, the junior made a run-saving, diving catch to end the top of the fifth inning. The Sabres carried that momentum into their half of the fifth and shocked the visiting dugout with a five-run inning that concluded with a Sipple bases-clearing double to left-center field to end the game by mercy-rule.
Marian will conclude the regular season and play its home finale tomorrow, April 29, in a doubleheader against Aurora. The Sabres will recognize the fight against breast cancer in charging \$3 ahead with all proceeds going to breast cancer research. First pitch is slated for noon.
