FORT MYERS, Fla. - Marian University softball (12-2, 0-0 NACC) closed out their spring trip 9-1 defeating North Central 9-2 and Crown 4-0.

The Marian bats started slowly but were able to find their stride late as the Sabres took advantage of Cardinal errors in a 9-2 win.

After three innings of scoreless play, the Sabres got on the board first when senior Sara Terrian drove a double into right field that scored freshman Gianna Esposito.  North Central answered in the bottom half of the inning, however, as they plated a run to tie the game at 1-1.

After a scoreless fifth, the Marian bats found their stride scoring six runs in the top of the sixth taking advantage of three errors.  Sophomore Olivia Hartley opened the scoring for the inning with a bases loaded single that brought around Terrian, Esposito and sophomore Lindsey Strainis.

Senior Charlotte Pegram then laid down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown away to score  Hartley.  In a pinch hit appearance, freshman Maygen Marcell drove in Pegram and senior Nicole LaBeck before an RBI groundout from freshman Ally Fox to plate Pegram.

The Sabres were able to extend their lead in the top of the seventh when Hartley drove a two-run home run to dead center.  The Cardinals would tack on a run in the bottom half of the final inning to put the final at 9-2.

The heart of the Marian lineup went 5-11 in the game accounting for six of the Sabre runs and runs batted in.

Senior Shannon Huray (6-2) went the distance scattering eight hits with three strikeouts.

A pair of scoreless frames opened game two of the day against Crown, but the Sabres were able to strike first in the top of the third when Esposito brought in Fox and Strainis thanks to an error to put MU ahead 2-0. 

The Sabre offense continued to produce with a run in the third and an RBI double from Terrian in the fourth to close out the scoring.

Freshman Paige Rauhut (5-0) was dominant in the circle throwing a two-hitter with two strikeouts only allowing two runners in the final 21 batters she faced.

Marian is next in action when they open NACC play at MSOE Saturday, April 1 with a noon first pitch for the doubleheader.

--FightBlueFight--