MILWAUKEE - Marian University softball (22-18, 10-10 NACC) was swept by No. 24 MSOE to close out the regular season with final scores of 9-5 and 5-4.

Defensive miscues hurt the Sabres in game one as MSOE was able to score nine runs but only two of those were earned.  A three-run home run from Peyton Loesch opened the game before MSOE scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first.  The long ball was number eight on the year for Loesch.  The Raiders took their first lead of the game in the second with two more runs, both unearned.

The Sabres struck back in the fifth with Loesch hitting a triple to drive in a run, and junior Melanie Weigel driving in Loesch with a single.  The back-to-back run-producing hits gave Marian a 5-4 advantage.  The Raiders then plated five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good in a 9-5 MSOE win.

Loesch finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four driven in as she had a hand in all five Marian runs and missed the cycle by just a single.  Sophomore Laney Spradlin provided 2.0 innings of relief allowing just two hits and one walk.

Marian had a strong start in game two as well with freshman Katelyn Matenaer driving in a pair of runs to open the first.  MSOE responded scoring a run in the first three innings to go up 3-2.  In the fourth, a triple from freshman Evelynn Spaeth tied the game before the Sabres retook the lead with a run-producing single from senior Katy Croeker.  The Raiders would once again rally, however, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to earn a walk-off win.

Matenaer and Croeker each had a pair of hits with Matenaer scoring once and driving in two runs.  Sophomore Emalee Depa went 4.0 innings allowing six hits and just two earned runs.

Marian will now take on No. 24 MSOE to open the NACC North Tournament Thursday, May 6 for a 7 p.m. first pitch.  Marian softball will host the three-day tournament with game one featuring Concordia Wisconsin and Lakeland at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 6.