Photo by Miles Qualmann (Marian OUR)

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – At least a split was needed and that's what the Marian University softball team got as it vies for the final Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference tournament spot with two games remaining. The Sabres came from behind to win game one, 2-1, in extra innings before visiting MSOE answered with a 4-1 win in game two, at Smith Field this afternoon, April 25.

The Sabres (14-22, 10-10 NACC) and Raiders (23-15, 10-10 NACC) are tied for the sixth and final tournament spot with just two games left to play. MSOE owns the tie-breaker and takes on a NACC contender in Dominican, while Marian travels to last-place Rockford to close out the league schedule tomorrow.

Game one saw its fair share of heroics, highlighted by Emily Gorges' one-hitter, adding seven strikeouts with no walks in the process. Despite the impressive pitching line, a win wasn't in the picture until the Sabres were down to their last strike in the bottom of the seventh with a 1-0 deficit.

Finishing off a tremendous at-bat, Gabby D'Oronzo came through with an RBI single that rewarded a Gorges on-out double to help her own cause. Marian would win it in the eighth in walk-off fashion as Charlotte Pegram singled home Lydia Cloud for the game-winner.

The Raiders responded with a game two win led by Katie Ready's 3-for-4 effort with two runs scored. MSOE never trailed, while Shannon Curtis and Sara McConnell combined for the solid pitching performance to secure the win.

Gorges began game one with an impressive start, retiring the first 15 batters she faced before allowing a lead-off double to Callie Wightman in the sixth inning. She would later score an unearned run after a fielding miscue and a successful squeeze bunt by ready to put the Raiders in front.

Gorges would go on to retire the final eight batters of the game.

With one out in the seventh, Gorges fought off several pitchers before lining a rope to left center to give the Sabres hope. After a Heather Dorn strikeout, D'Oronzo took the seventh pitch she saw and singled down the right field line to score pinch-runner Nicole LaBeck from second base.

Cloud got the eighth started with a bunt single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Rachel Andres then performed a well-executed sacrifice bunt to move Cloud ahead 60 feet. The next batter, Pegram, then singled through the right side on a 3-1 pitch to win it.

Nikki Ponticelli would go 0-for-2 in her Senior Day start. She was honored between games by her teammates and coaching staff for her four years of hard work and service.

In game two, Gorges registered three of Marian's five hits as the offense struggled to gain momentum against the MSOE pitching duo. The lone Sabre run scored on Sara Terrian's RBI single up the middle, scoring Amber Johnson, who started the fourth inning with a leadoff walk, to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Raiders scored twice in the sixth following an error to take a commanding 4-1 lead and never looked back.

A sweep for either side would have clinched the final spot in the NACC tournament, but instead both sides will be forced to wait another 24 hours.

Marian will head to Rockford for the NACC regular season finale, set for a noon start tomorrow, April 26.