Sabres Sweep NACC Opener From WLC

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – The Wisconsin Lutheran College softball team dropped its opening Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference games to the visiting Marian Sabres Thursday afternoon at Neumann Family Field.

THE BASICS

• Final Scores: Marian 2, Wisconsin Lutheran 1; Marian 5, Wisconsin Lutheran 1
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (5-9, 0-2 NACC), Marian (12-6, 4-0 NACC)
• Location: Neumann Family Field, Milwaukee, Wis.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• Both teams struggled to gain momentum in the opening innings until the top of the third when Marian's Ally Fox led off the inning with a bunt single, then stole second base. Fox scored on an error and then Peyton Loesch drove in the second run of the inning with a single to right field.
• WLC responded after Gracie Wilson (Deerfield, Wis.) singled to right field and then stole second base, then Megan Belongia (Ashwaubenon, Wis.) drove her in with a single through the right side of the infield to bring WLC within one run in the third.
• Marian threatened to add a run in the top of the fourth inning when they put a runner on third base, but Abby Mahsem (South Milwaukee, Wis.) escaped the jam with a groundout to end the frame.
• Mahsem led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double, then advanced to third on a groundout, but the Warriors were unable to drive her in as the score remained 2-1 through four innings.
• WLC was held without a hit for the final three innings of the game as the Sabres took game one, 2-1.
• Mahsem pitched a complete game, her second straight, allowing just six hits and two unearned runs.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Sabres jumped out in the top of the first inning of game two after a sacrifice fly and an RBI single up the middle, leading 2-0 after one inning.
• Marian added two more in the top of the second after Fox singled home Alexa Rodriguez and then crossed the plate off of a single through the left side of the infield, putting MU ahead 4-0.
• The Sabres added an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning when Taylor Lauscher doubled to the left field fence, scoring Loesch.
• The Warriors got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning when Mahsem launched a solo homerun over the left field fence, making the score 5-1. It was the team's fourth homerun of the season.
• WLC failed to reach base in the final two frames as the Sabres earned the 5-1 triumph.

FOR THE FOES

• Fox led the Sabres in game one with a 2-for-4 effort, scoring one run. Loesch recorded the lone RBI for Marian in game one while Paige Rauhut picked up the victory with a complete game, allowing four hits and one run.
• Gianna Esposito led Marian in game two with two RBIs while Loesch went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
• Loesch tossed a complete game, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out four.

UP NEXT

• The Warriors continue NACC play when they travel to Aurora Monday, April 2 for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader. The Spartans (9-5, 0-0 NACC) open their conference slate Saturday night at Dominican.