MONTGOMERY, Ill. - Marian University softball (22-14, 9-9 NACC) salvaged a split against Aurora dropping game one 4-3 before defeating the Spartans 5-1.

Both offenses sputtered to open the game before the Spartans took the first lead of the game with a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth innings.  The Sabres rallied in the top of the sixth and were able to score three runs to cut the deficit to 4-3.  Sophomore Lindsey Strainis opened the scoring for MU with an RBI single to score freshman Ally Fox, which was followed by a two-out two RBI double from freshman Gianna Esposito to score senior Nicole LaBeck and Strainis.

This would be as close as Marian would manage, however, as the Spartans were able to hang on with a 1-2-3 seventh to close out the 4-3 win.

The Marian bats came alive in game two with consistent offense to a salvage a split with the Spartans.  Strainis brought in sophomore Rachel Soch with a groundout in the third, senior Sara Terrian brought in Esposito with a single in the fourth and Strainis hit a triple in the fifth with an error allowing her to score for a 3-0 Sabre lead. 

The Spartans answered in the bottom of the fifth cutting the lead to 3-1 but the Sabre offense went back to work in the sixth with a pair of runs.  Soch would lay down a sacrifice bunt before Fox brought home a pair of Sabres with a one-out double.

Aurora would put the tying run on deck in the bottom of the seventh but the Sabres were able to work around a pair of singles to earn the 5-1 win.

Eight of the nine Sabre hitters recorded a hit with Strainis being the lone Sabre to have multiple hits going 2-4 with a run scored and run batted in.  Freshman Paige Rauhut (9-5) scattered seven hits and struck out five in a complete game win.

Marian opens the final weekend of the regular season trailing Concordia Chicago by two games for the final spot in the NACC Tournament.  The Sabres close out the home portion of their schedule Friday, April 28 against Wisconsin Lutheran at 3 p.m. for a NACC doubleheader.

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