OSHKOSH, Wis. – Marian University softball (0-2, 0-0 NACC) fell 10-9 and 10-1 in five innings against UW-Oshkosh to open the season.
The opener of the series saw a lot of offense early as the two teams combined for 12 runs in the first inning and a half. A passed ball allowed junior Gianna Esposito to score in the top half of the opening frame before UW-Oshkosh scored five runs in the bottom half. The Sabres responded with six runs in the top of the second to take a 7-5 lead. Junior Alexa Rodriguez opened the scoring with an RBI single before Esposito drew a bases-loaded walk. Junior Peyton Loesch then drove in a run with fellow junior Katy Croeker doing the same. Sophomore Melanie Weigl kept the scoring going with an RBI with an error allowing Loesch to score and close out the big frame.
The Sabre lead didn’t last long as UW-Oshkosh would tie the game at 7-7 with a pair of runs in the third. Marian quickly retook the lead, however, the next half inning when senior Taylor Lauscher drove in Esposito.
A bases-clearing double from the Titans in the bottom of the sixth allowed them to take a 10-8 lead late. Marian rallied in the seventh with Loesch driving in another run but the comeback would fall short.
The top three hitters in the Marian lineup went a combined 7-12 (.583) with five runs scored. Esposito was perfect with three hits in three at bats to go with three runs scored, while Loesch went 2-4 with a run scored and a pair of runs batted in.
The Titans jumped out to a quick start in game two scoring all 10 of their runs in the first three innings. Freshman Stephanie Keefe would score the lone Marian run in the top of the third off of an error from UW-Oshkosh.
Marian opens their trip to Florida with Thiel at 1 p.m. (CST) and Gordon at 3:30 p.m. (CST) Saturday, March 7.
–FightBlueFight—
