MILWAUKEE (SabreAthletics.com) – It was hoping for more than just a split, but the Marian University softball team salvaged one following a 5-2 victory in game two that preceded an extra-innings, 6-5, setback to Alverno College in game one at Alverno Field, this evening, April 16.

The Sabres (10-16, 7-5 NACC) batted around in their first at-bat and posted a four-run first inning en route to the game two victory, which ended after six innings due to darkness. Game one they let slip away after leading 3-2 in the sixth and 5-4 in extras. Five errors plagued Marian in the opening game and it led to three unearned runs for Alverno (8-21, 3-11 NACC).

Brie Hechimovich tallied four hits in the two games combined, while Nikki Ponticelli, Heather Dorn and Amanda Cain each had three. Gorges took the hard-luck loss in game one, allowing three unearned runs while striking out five and walking five. Dorn responded with a solid pitching performance in game two, allowing two runs (1 earned) on just four hits, while striking out three and walking one.

In game one, the Inferno got on the board first thanks to a lead-off single by Megan Rossi in the second inning. She was able to take advantage of three wild pitches and eventually scored the game's first run.

Marian answered back in the third with a pair of runs driven in by a Sara Terrian single to right field. With the bases loaded, Terrian went the other way with the pitch and dropped it inside the right field foul line to bring home Hechimovich and Rachael Andres.

With the scored tied at 2-2, Hechimovich reached for the third time in a row with a single up the middle to start another rally. Two batters later, a Charlotte Pegram groundout drove her in to give the Sabres a 3-2 lead.

Seemingly in control, the Sabres looked to close the door, but the Inferno had other ideas with two outs in the sixth. After recording the second out on a strikeout, starter Emily Gorges was almost out of the inning until Skibba knocked in two runs with a single to right center field to give her team a 4-3 advantage.

Pegram helped the Sabres scratch across  the tying run in the seventh with a two-out single down the right field line, bringing home Andres, who singled to left with one out. Gorges would work around an Alverno single in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extras.

With two outs in the top of the eighth, Amanda Cain took the first pitch she saw and deposited way over the left field fence to give the Sabres a 5-4 lead. But that wasn't enough as Alverno scratched across the tying run in the bottom half and winning run in the ninth to steal one away from the Sabres.

Marian would get even with the Inferno in game two, sending nine batters to the plate in the first inning to take an immediate 4-0 advantage.

Amber Johnson gave the Sabres a quick 2-0 lead when she took the first pitch from Rossi and crushed it over the right center field fence.

Johnson, Cain and Dorn were solid in the middle of the lineup, registering two hits apiece and combining for four runs scored. Hechimovich added two hits as well, and scored once.

Marian outhit Alverno 11-4 in the nightcap that was ended after six innings due to darkness.

The Sabres will be back in action for a non-conference doubleheader at nearby rival Ripon College this Friday, April 18. Game one start time is set for 3 p.m.