MILWAUKEE, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The fourth-seeded Marian University softball team opened the 2012 Northern Athletics Conference tournament with a dominating, 7-1, victory over fifth-seeded Lakeland College at Alverno Field Thursday afternoon, May 3.
The Sabres scored some instant offense in the bottom of the first, taking a 2-0 lead five batters into the game, and never looked back.
Emilie Jansen, the league's leader in RBIs this season, went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four runs batted in.
Cherise Waltz went the distance to pick up her 17th win of the season, overcoming her arch rival, Lakeland, in the process.
The Sabres advance to play top-seeded Benedictine at 9 a.m. tomorrow in the double-elimination tournament. Marian defeated the Eagles last Saturday, 11-2, in the second game of a doubleheader to earn a home split.
Marian improves to 21-18 overall, while Lakeland falls to 19-18 and will look to stave off elimination tomorrow at 1 p.m.
A rain delayed start to the tournament opener didn't affect the Sabres any as Waltz retired the side in order before her offense backed her with two quick runs in the bottom of the first.
Before the Sabres could get finish their rally, another downpour forced a second rain delay. Play resumed with runners at second and third and only one out, but Lakeland pitcher Erin Henk was able to escape the jam without further damage.
After another scoreless inning by Waltz, Jansen struck in the bottom of the second with her first home run of the afternoon, a three-run shot to center field, scoring
Aubrey O'Brien and
Liz Schaller.
The score would remain 5-0 Sabres into the fifth inning when Jansen tacked on another with a solo home run to right field. It was her eighth long ball of the season and 44th RBI.
Ariel O'Neill added one more in the frame with an RBI single to left field to make it 7-0.
Leah Sheahan tallied the lone Lakeland run with her third home run of the season in the top of the sixth.
The top-three hitters in the Marian lineup went a combined 5-for-10 with four RBIs and six runs scored. Schaller added a 2-for-4 effort, while O'Brien went 1-for-3.
Waltz (17-13) finished the game scattering eight hits and allowing a run, while striking out five and walking just one. She overcame an 0-4 record against her sister Elise, who is a graduate assistant coach on the Lakeland staff, and an 0-8 record against Lakeland in her career. She snapped a nine-game Marian losing streak to the Muskies and surpassed Jessica Krzewina ('00) for the single-season wins record.
Marian and Benedictine will face off at 9 a.m. tomorrow at Alverno Field. Live stats and video links will be provided by Alverno sports information.
