CLERMONT, Fla. - Marian University softball (5-4, 0-0 NACC) defeated Marietta 3-0 and Northland 8-2 to close out their annual spring trip with a 5-2 record.

The Sabres received a dominant pitching performance to open the day posting their second shutout of the trip.  After a quiet first inning, sophomore Evelynn Spaeth opened the second with a double and scored after an errant throw off of sacrifice bunt from senior Melanie Weigel.  Sophomore Katelyn Matenaer then stepped up in the fifth providing a two-out double to plate a run and put Marian ahead 2-0.  Some insurance came in the sixth after the Pioneers retired the first two hitters of the inning.  A two-out double from Weigel started the rally and freshman Kerena Wood would follow that with a single to bring in sophomore Hailey Tice who was pinch-running.  This closed out the scoring for a 3-0 Marian victor.

Marian didn't need much offense with junior Emalee Depa (3-2) going the distance allowing just two hits in the circle to earn the win.  Depa would also strike out three Pioneer hitters, while Matenaer had the only multi-hit game of the day to lead the offense. 

Marian was then able to jump out to an early lead in game two, their second match-up with Northland on the trip.  Junior Andrea Miller opened the scoring with a double to right-center that scored a pair of runs in the second inning.  The LumberJills responded in the next half inning tying the game at 2-2.  Miller would put the Sabres ahead again the fourth hitting a three-run homer, her third long ball of the spring trip.  A single from junior Kaley Ludvigsen and a double from Depa later in the inning provided the Sabres a 7-2 cushion.  Weigel then closed out the scoring for the game driving in Matenaer in the sixth to put the final at 8-2.

Matenaer and Wood each had three hits in the victory, while Miller finished 2-for-3 with five runs driven in.  Senior Cailie Pliner (2-2) went 4.2 innings to earn the win allowing just four hits and no runs to cross home.

Marian opens NACC play at home hosting Concordia Chicago Friday, March 25 for a 3 p.m. first pitch.