Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Marian University won the first game in its final at bat and then halted a Lakeland University rally in the final inning of the second game to sweep both ends of a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference softball doubleheader Saturday afternoon in frigid conditions at Marian's Smith Field.

The Sabres won both games by 4-3 scores, dealing the Muskies two more close losses in a season that has started to become full of them. Lakeland has now lost six times by a single run and dropped to 12-12 overall and 5-7 in the NACC.

Marian (12-12 overall, 7-5 NACC) swiped the first game with a run to tie in the fifth and then the winning run scoring in the seventh. Abigail Schreiber was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the seventh and Hope Matta followed with an infield single on a bunt, with Schreiber moving to third on an error. Kaley Ludvigsen then put down another bunt with Schreiber coming in to score the winning run, the only time in the game the Sabres held the lead.

Lakeland had built a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Sydney Meyer (Fr.-Crown Point, Ind.) stole home on a double-steal and Jordan August (So.-Schererville, Ind.) followed immediately after with a single to center to score Peyton Harlow (Fr.-La Porte, Ind.). Marian had answered with two runs in the bottom of the third when Katelyn Matenaer hit a two-out, two-run double, but the Muskies went back ahead in the fourth with another double-steal, this time with Haylee Dodd (Fr.-Kenosha, Wis.) taking home for a 3-2 lead.

Lakeland played from behind in the second game from the third inning on, when the Sabres sent nine batters to the plate and scored three times to take the lead. The Muskies got a run back in the fourth when Dodd tripled with one out and Carlie Morrow (Fr.-Menasha, Wis.) followed with a single to drive her in, and a leadoff double by Hannah Nelson (Jr.-Loves Park, Ill.) in the fifth led to another run after a two-out single by Abby Heitman (Fr.-St. Francis, Wis.) to make it 3-2.

Marian added a run in the sixth on a double-steal of its own, but Lakeland was in business quickly in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with no outs. Melanie Watters (So.-Sturgeon Bay, Wis.), Nelson and Harlow posted consecutive singles, including Harlow reaching on a bunt single. The inning took a big hit, though, when August hit a fly to right that was caught, and Marian right fielder Julia Corona also cut down Nelson attempting to move to third. The game ended one batter later when Heitman flied out to right to end the game.

Nelson, Harlow and Heitman all had two hits each in the second game. Lakeland outhit Marian 9-8 in the second game but stranded seven runners, including two each in the second and third innings.

The Muskies play again Sunday, this time at home when they face Rockford University for a doubleheader starting at noon.