TUCSON, Ariz – The Marian University softball team split games against the Alfred University Saxons and the Crown College Storm in their second day of action at the Tucson Invitational. After falling to Alfred, 12-4, earlier in the day, the Sabres responded with a 9-2 win over Crown to improve to 3-5 on the year.

The Saxons gained an early lead over the Sabres as Mackenzie Miller led off the game with a homerun. The Sabres were able to respond and gain leads throughout the next two innings, but they were unable to hold onto it late. The Saxons scored seven runs combined in the fifth and sixth innings to run away with the win.

Game two showed different results for the Sabres as Shannon Huray was lights out on the mound. She pitched seven innings, allowing two runs and struck out eight. The win is her first of the year for the Sabres.

The Sabre lineup was hot out of the gate against the Storm as they scored six runs in the first two innings. Charlotte Pegram, Tana VandenHeuvel, Emily Gorges and Gabby D'Oronzo each had RBI's in the early rout.

Offensive success continued for the Sabres as they ran away with the lead. Nicole Labeck tripled in the fifth inning to drive in the Sabres' seventh run of the game. She later scored on a sac fly from Rachel Andres. Back-to-back doubles by Emily Gorges and Sara Terrian, in the sixth inning, scored one last run for the Sabres as they came away with a seven-run victory.

The Sabres return to action tomorrow with games against UW-Lacrosse and Loras. Game one is set for 1 p.m. CST.