FORT MYERS, Fla. - Marian University softball (10-2, 0-0 NACC) fell to UW-Superior 3-0 before defeating Castleton 8-7 in 12 innings, a game that entered extras scoreless.

In the opener of the day, the Marian bats couldn't get anything going as they would only manage four hits against UW-Superior.  The YellowJackets would score one in the first inning and a pair in the fourth inning as they went on to a 3-0 victory.

Freshman Ally Fox went 3-3 in the game, while Shannon Huray (5-2) took the tough-luck loss allowing two earned runs in her 7.0 innings with four strikeouts.

The second game proved to be another pitching duel but the Sabres were able to put together rally after rally in extras to earn the win.

Freshman Paige Rauhut was excellent on the mound holding Castleton scoreless in regulation, but the Marian bats couldn't plate a run.  Both offenses sputtered as neither team was able to get a runner to third base in the first seven innings.

With an automatic runner placed on second to start every inning in extras, both sides would manage to bunt over and score that runner in the eighth and ninth.  The Sabres would have an opportunity in the 10th with a runner on third and one out but were unable to bring the run home. 

The Spartans used that momentum scoring four runs in the top of the 11th taking the 6-2 lead. 

Freshman Gianna Esposito started a rally in the bottom half of the inning with a one-out double that plated sophomore Lindsey Strainis, and in the next at bat senior Sara Terrian brought in Esposito with a single to center.  A single from senior Nicole LaBeck kept the line moving and a groundout in the next at bat put the tying runs on second and third with two outs.

Sophomore Rachel Soch was up to the challenge with a single in the left center gap that plated both runs to continue the game.

The Spartans would once again plate their inherited runner in the top of the 12th before Marian sealed the victory.

With Fox on second, Strainis singled off of a bunt and in the next at bat broke for second which caused the ball to scoot far enough away from the catcher to plate Fox and tie the game.

Esposito then moved Strainis over to third before Terrian rocketed a ball into center field to give Marian the 8-7 win.

Rauhut finished the game throwing 10.1 innings scattering seven hits and striking out seven.  Fellow freshman Paige Michaelson (1-0) earned the win throwing the final 1.2 innings and only allowing one inherited runner.

Offensively, Marian was led by Strainis who went 4-6 in the game with two runs scored, while Terrian finished 3-5 with a pair of runs batted in.

Marian closes out their spring trip playing North Central (Ill.) at 8 a.m. (CDT) and Crown (Minn.) at 10 a.m. (CDT).

--FightBlueFight--