Marian University softball (0-2, 0-0 NACC) was defeated 9-0 by Illinois College and 4-3 in eight innings by Alvernia to open the season.
 

• The opening game of the day saw Illinois College score three runs in the top of the first inning, which proved to be enough.
• The Sabres were limited to three hits in the defeat.
• Marian is now 2-2 all-time against Illinois College.
• In game two of the day, Marian threatened in the first and third innings, but Alvernia scored the opening run in the bottom of the third.
• Marian was finally able to break through in the next half inning when junior Alexa Paulsberg drove in fellow junior Carissa Heisdorf with a double.
• The tie game didn’t last long, though, as Alvernia took a 2-1 lead heading into the fifth.
• A double from sophomore Mackenzie Christofferson in the top of the sixth helped tie the game as her pinch-runner, sophomore Kathryn Albright, would score shortly after on a wild pitch.
• The game eventually went into extras where senior Ariana Schliepp drove in the inherited runner for Marian to give the Sabres their first lead of the game.
• Marian stranded the bases loaded, however, which proved to play a factor as Alvernia was able to score two runs in their half of the eighth.

	Sophomore McKenna Repovich tossed 3.2 innings of scoreless relief between the two games.
	Sophomore Erin Cowe went 2-for-4 with a run scored against Alvernia.
	Junior Riley Mankowski was the lone Sabre to have a hit in each game.