TUCSON, Ariz. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University softball dropped a pair of non-conference tilts to some high-quality competition, this afternoon, March 13, falling to Southwestern (Tex.), 10-1, and #10 Central (Iowa), 8-0, at Lincoln Park.

The Sabres struggled to gain any sort of momentum offensively. Southwestern scored eight first inning runs en route to victory, while Central used a balanced attack, highlighted by a four-run second inning to fuel its win. Brooke Koechell took the loss in game one, while Emily Gorges fell on the short side in the second game.

Southwestern improved to 12-7 overall and Central to 6-4 with the wins, while Marian dropped to 2-8 in defeat.

In game one, the Pirates tallied six hits en route to an eight-run first inning. Karen Ramirez highlighted the onslaught with a three-run homer, marking her second time reaching base and second time crossing the plate in the inning.

It was all Pirates until the bottom of the fifth when the Sabres broke up the no-hit bid with a Nikki Ponticelli single. The Sabres would eventually load the bases and a hit-by-pitch from Tana Vanden Heuvel would allow Ponticelli to score, which also erased the shutout.

In game two, the nationally-ranked Dutch showed why they were so highly-regarded with a first inning run. Catch Gabby D'Oronzo ended the threat by throwing out Sarcone trying to steal second.

She would do it again after the leadoff hitter in the second inning, Meyer, reached first on a hit-by-pitch. Greiner, who pinch ran was cut down by D'Oronzo, who even double-clutched before firing a lazer down to second base for the first out.

Gorges would get the next batter looking on strikes, but the Dutch were poised to put together a two-out rally. The next five Dutch reached base and the four-run inning was capped off with back-to-back two-RBI base hits by Strajack and Te Brink.

Trailing 5-0, the Sabres couldn't muster any offense against the right arm of Haycraft. The Central pitcher gave up just four hits in four innings of work to earn the win. Daniele Gerth led off the third with a single and Vanden Heuvel added another one base hit to put two on with two outs, but Emilie Jansen just missed her pitch and popped it up to second to end the inning.

Amber Johnson added a double in the fourth, but nothing came of it. In the fifth and final frame, Bridgette Stelsel singled with one out, but Meyer, who came on to close it out in the last inning, got Brie Hechimovich and Vanden Heuvel to strikeout swinging to end the game.

The Sabres will play their final two games of the spring trip tomorrow, March 14. Marian will face Alfred at 11 a.m. central time and Baldwin Wallace at 1 p.m. central. Live stats will be available via www.sabreathletics.com.