FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Natalie Ziebell (Fr.-New Holstein, Wis.) and Lily Pettit (Fr.-Rewey, Wis.) both pitched well but Lakeland University could muster little offensively and lost a pair of one-run decisions to Marian University Wednesday afternoon at Smith Field.

The Sabres won the first game 1-0 and claimed the second game by a 2-1 score. The Muskies' bats fizzled and the price was steep, as Marian moved past Lakeland in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference standings while the Muskies dropped to fifth in conference at 16-14 overall and 10-6 in the NACC.

Lakeland was held to five hits combined over the two games, including one in the first game. Averaging 9.5 runs per game over their last 16 games coming in, the Muskies had their worst offensive day of the season against the Sabres (17-13 overall, 12-4 NACC).

Ziebell pitched a complete game in the opener, allowing only a single unearned run in the first inning when leadoff hitter Hope Matta reached on an error and later scored. She allowed six hits and struck out three in her seventh complete game of the season.

Lakeland posted just one baserunner against Marian pitcher Sabrina Di Vito, who pitched a one-hitter with four strikeouts. Sydney Meyer (Jr.-Crown Point, Ind.) reached on an infield single with two outs in the second inning, but Di Vito retired the final 16 Muskies in order. The Muskies' best chance besides Meyer's hit came when Peyton Harlow (Jr.-La Porte, Ind.) led off the top of the fifth with a line drive rope, but one that went right at left fielder Sofia Cerullo for an out.

The Muskies started well in the second game but missed a chance to build a sizeable lead early. Lakeland loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the second but could score just one run when Lexi Howard (Fr.-Crown Point, Ind.) hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Maddie Raske (So.-Tinley Park, Ill.) for a 1-0 lead. The flyout turned into a double play when a baserunner got caught in a rundown for a second out, and the inning ended soon after.

Marian scored single runs in the second and third innings, including an unearned run in the second to tie the game and a sacrifice fly by Kendall Pliner in the third. Lakeland would post just three baserunners over its final five innings at bat and did not advance a runner past first base.

Pettit allowed seven hits and two runs (one earned) in the loss. Cailie Pliner pitched four innings for the win and McKenna Repovich covered the final three innings allowing just one hit for the save. Pliner and Repovich did not record a single strikeout but recorded 15 outs by groundout.

Meyer was the lone Lakeland player with two hits on the day and including a walk in the second game reached base three times.