MARQUETTE, Mich. (SabreAthletics.com) – A 32-run output capped off an opening day that saw the Marian University softball team split a pair of contests at the Finlandia Dome Tournament, this evening, Feb. 23. The Sabres' comeback effort fell just short in a 7-6 defeat to UW-La Crosse, but responded with a 32-2 victory over Mount Mary in the nightcap that spilled into Sunday.

Due to delays within the tournament, the Sabres and Eagles didn't get going until close to 10 p.m. local time. The Marian offense waited a little longer, but made things interesting in the end. The offense used the momentum established in game one to rout Mount Mary in game two, which ended around 1:30 a.m. local time.

Nikki Ponticelli and Amber Johnson each recorded five hits, while Shannon Hofmann and Nikki Jakel tallied four apiece. From the number nine slot in the lineup against Mount Mary, Hofmann drove in eight runs in a 4-for-4 effort at the dish to lead the Sabres.

Freshman pitcher Emily Gorges got off to a slow start by giving up five runs in the first inning to UW-La Crosse. A couple fielding errors didn't help the cause as the Sabres were left with a big hole to climb out of.

The Eagles would add another run in the fourth before the Marian bats finally came to life.

With two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the fifth, freshman catcher Gabby D'Oronzo stepped to the plate and crushed her first collegiate home run, a grand slam to make it a 6-4 game.

After Gorges held the Eagles scoreless in their half of the fifth, the Sabres offense displayed fireworks once again, this time against Beres, who came on in relief of the starter Nelson for the Eagles.

After a Brie Hechimovich pop out, Johnson homered to cut the deficit to 6-5. Ponticelli then made it back-to-back jacks and made up a 6-0 deficit to tie the game.

Gorges retired the side in the bottom of the sixth and the Sabres had a chance to take their first lead. Emilie Jansen walked and then advanced to second on a Gorges sacrifice, but would be stranded there.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Eagle offense broke through. A lead-off walk proved costly as Wiltzius eventually scored on a passed ball with two outs, thus ending the game.

In game two, the Marian offense wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Six runs in the first, 13 in the second , eight in the third, four in the fourth and one more for good measure in the fifth accounted for all 32 runs for the Sabres.

Brooke Koechell got the start in the circle and held the Angels to just two runs on four hits.

The Sabres will be back in action on Sunday, taking on UW-River Falls at 11:15 a.m. central time, followed by a 2:45 p.m. central start time against tournament host Finlandia.