FOND DU LAC - Marian University softball (11-7, 0-0 NACC) battled cold weather to defeat Dominican 3-1 and 10-0 in five innings.

A pitching duel opened a cold day at Smith Field as the Stars and Sabres were only able to combine for four runs.  The Sabres got on the board first in the bottom of the second when sophomore Julia Corona was able to hit a double that drove in senior Jade Mardjetko.  The Stars responded with a run in the fourth to tie the game but that tie didn't last long.

Freshman Katelyn Matenaer was able to bring in junior Rachel Mereness in the bottom half of the frame to quickly give Marian the lead again at 2-1.  Then in the bottom of the sixth, freshman Hailey Tice was able to steal second and after a pair of wild pitches, scored to give the Sabres a 3-1 lead. 

Mardjetko led the offense going 2-for-3 with a run scored.  In the circle, sophomore Emalee Depa (5-0) tossed a second straight complete game allowing one unearned run and scattering five hits with four punch outs.

The Marian offense then dominated early in game two and cruised to a sweep.  The Sabres put up three runs in the first with senior Katy Croeker hitting a double to drive in a pair of runs followed by a Corona sacrifice fly.  A five-run inning then followed in the second to put Marian ahead 8-0.  Senior Alexa Rodriguez opened the scoring for the inning with a sacrifice fly, followed by junior Melanie Weigel who drove in a pair with a single.  Sophomore Izzy Gonzalez then drew a bases-loaded walk followed by an infield single from freshman Evelyn Spaeth that brought in a run.

A two-RBI double from Weigel in the third then proved to be the final scoring play for the game in a 10-0 Marian win.

Senior Paige Rauhut (5-4) tossed a shutout and only allowed two hits with six strikeouts to earn the win in the circle.  Weigel finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 with four runs driven in and a run scored, while Spaeth had the first multi-hit game of her career.

Marian plays their first conference games of the season hosting Lakeland Saturday, April 3 for a 1 p.m. first pitch.