LISLE, Ill. (SabreAthletics.com) – The opponent was formidable, pitching was outstanding and it led to a stagnant offensive showing for the Marian University softball team as it was swept by host Benedictine University at the BU Softball Complex this afternoon, April 27. The Eagles took game one in six innings, 8-0, before winning game two, 7-0.

The Sabres recorded just nine hits on the day against an Eagle pitching staff that recorded their fourth and fifth shutouts of the season. The pitching combo of Melissa Guzior and Ashley Parrott combined to strikeout 13 Sabres, while walking just one. Emilie Jansen and Nikki Ponticelli were the lone Sabres to record multiple hits on the day, going 2-for-6 and 2-for-5, respectively.

Marian falls to 10-22 overall, 8-12 NAC, while Benedictine improved to 22-12 (18-4 NAC).

In game one, errors plagued the Sabres as the score remained close until a six-run sixth put Benedictine over the top. All six runs in the inning were unearned due to an error that led off the inning.

Prior to that, freshman pitcher Emily Gorges had held the Benedictine offense to just two runs. The Marian offense, on the other hand, was unable to get a baserunner to third base all game against Guzior.

In the top of the sixth, a double by Jansen looked to get a two-out rally started, with just a 2-0 deficit at the time, but Guzior came back to strike out Gorges to end the frame.

In game two, Brooke Koechell got the start for the Sabres and looked to repeat her 11-2 victory over the Eagles last season, but it wasn't in the cards at the end of the day.

She retired the side in order in the first, but the Eagles got on the board in the second.

They would then add four more in the third and two more runs in the sixth to go up, 7-0.

The Sabres just couldn't get their offense going against Parrott. Marian mustered just one hit through the first four innings and five total for the game.

The best scoring chance for the Sabres came in the last inning when Ponticelli doubled with one out. Two batters later, Mikayla Ebben singled to put runners at first and third with two outs. However, it didn't produce a rally as Parrott was able to get Shannon Hofmann to strike out to end the game.

The Sabres will be back in action tomorrow, taking on Aurora on the road in a noon start.