MONTGOMERY, Ill. - Marian University softball (17-7, 9-1 NACC) defeated MSOE 4-0 to open a NACC doubleheader before the Raiders salvaged a split with an 8-1 victory.

The opening game proved to be a pitching duel where the Sabres were actually outhit but came throw in two innings for the victory.  Marian opened the scoring right away in the bottom of the first when freshman Katy Croeker came up with a clutch two-out single to right field that plated junior Lindsey Strainis. 

The Sabre offense then came through again in the fifth when freshman Alexa Rodriguez opened the inning with a single to left field.  After a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Ally Fox moved Rodriguez to third and freshman Kenzie Waechter to second Strainis was able to draw a walk to load the bases.  Sophomore Gianna Esposito then came through with a two-RBI single into center field.  Croeker then came up with another big hit bringing in Strainis once again with a single to put MU ahead 4-0. 

From there, sophomore Paige Rauhut would limit the Raiders to only two hits as she improved to 10-2 on the season with her second shutout of the year.  P. Rauhut struck out five while scattering eight hits in the victory.  Offensively, Croeker was the lone Sabre with a multi-hit game going 2-3 with a pair of runs driven in.

The finale saw the Raiders jump out early on the Sabres and Marian just couldn't find a way to climb back in the game.  The Sabres would deny MSOE a shutout in the fifth inning when freshman Peyton Loesch drove in Fox with a two-out single.  Loesch closed out the game as the only Sabre with multiple hits going 2-3.  Rodriguez also reached base multiple times going 1-2 with a walk.

Marian is back in action tomorrow, Saturday, April 21, where the Sabres take on Concordia Wisconsin at 10 a.m. for a NACC twin bill from the campus of Concordia Chicago.

--FightBlueFight--