ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Marian University softball team completed its two-day trip to the Chicago area with a series split at Dominican. The Stars won game one 5-3, however, the Sabres roared back in game two and were victorious 15-8.

The Sabres (15-7, 4-2 NACC) entered the doubleheader averaging 8.67 runs per game, which ranked seventh in the country. MU wasted little time finding its offensive groove in the series-finale.

Senior Tana Vanden Heuvel drilled an RBI triple to right field and scored on a throwing error to give the Sabres a 2-0 lead. Junior Nicole LaBeck followed that up with a triple of her own that scored a pair of runs and MU led 4-0 after one inning of play.

However, the Blue and White was just getting started. Freshman Olivia Hartley notched an RBI double to right field and senior Emily Gorges recorded an RBI single and the Sabres opened up a 6-0 lead. The offense wasn't done as senior Gabby D'Oronzo tripled down the right field line and three runs crossed home plate and the Sabres led 10-0.

DU (14-8, 4-2 NACC) rallied with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 11-8. MU's offense returned to form in the top of the sixth inning.

Freshmen Rachel Soch pierced an RBI single up the middle, while Gorges and Vanden Heuvel recorded back-to-back bases loaded walks. Hartley then scored on a throwing error to close out the scoring.

D'Oronzo batted 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Hartley finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and freshmen Lindsey Strainis batted 2-for-5 with three runs scored and a walk.

As a team the Sabres tripled five times.

Shannon Huray (7-4) earned the win. She tossed four and two-thirds innings and allowed six hits, seven runs (four earned) and walked four and fanned two.

In the morning session DU opened up a 5-1 lead and the Sabres tried to play catch-up.

Gorges and Strainis added RBIs in the fifth and sixth innings to cut the deficit to 5-3, but that's the closest the Sabres would come.

MU returns to conference play Wednesday at Lakeland and hosts UW-Oshkosh Thursday in a mid-season non-conference affair.

--FightBlueFight--