RHINELANDER, Wis. - Marian University softball (0-2, 0-0 NACC) opened the 2021 season falling to UW-Stevens Point 2-0 and 9-6.

The opener was a pitching duel from start to finish as the bottom of the fourth proved to be the only inning where either team could manage to push across any runs.  The Pointers were able to take advantage of three hits to open the inning to take a 2-0 lead which eventually served as the final.  The Sabres had a pair of opportunities to score but were held scoreless.  The first came in the third inning when Marian had the bases loaded with nobody out, and the second came in the top of the sixth where the Sabres put runners on second and third with only one out.

Seniors Alexa Rodriguez and Katy Croeker each had multi-hit games to pace the offense in the opener.  Fellow senior Paige Rauhut (0-1) had a strong outing in her first start of the season allowing just five hits over 6.0 innings with six strikeouts.

After a scoreless opening frame to start game two, the Pointers were able to score seven runs in the top of the second.  Marian responded in the bottom half of the inning, however, scoring their first runs of the season.  Junior Melanie Weigel opened the scoring for Marian in a big way with a home run to center field.  Sophomore Andrea Miller singled in another sophomore in Kaley Ludvigsen later in the inning to put the score at 7-2.

Marian kept rolling in the bottom of the third cutting their deficit down to three.  Senior Peyton Loesch was able to double and bring in Rodriguez to open the frame before a two-out single from Weigel scored Loesch.  The Pointers answered with another pair of runs in the next half inning, but the Sabres wouldn't go away scoring another pair of runs in the fifth.  Croeker hit a sacrifice fly to score Rodriguez, and in the next at bat, Weigel doubled to score sophomore Julia Corona.  This would be as close as Marian would get, however, setting the final at 9-6.

Rodriguez had another multi-hit game going 3-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Weigel finished 3-3 with a run scored and three runs driven in.  Freshman Cailie Pliner (0-1) suffered the loss in her first-career start, while sophomore Emalee Depa provided 5.2 innings of relief allowing just two earned runs off four hits.

Marian travels to Peoria, Ill. Thursday, Feb. 25 to take on Edgewood in a non-conference doubleheader that is set to start at 5:45 p.m.