ST. CLOUD, Minn. - On the final day of the regular season conference schedule, the University of Mary Softball team took on St. Cloud State University for the final doubleheader of an already lengthy season.
 
The Marauders (24-31, 13-16 NSIC) needed at least one win to remain in contention for the conference tournament, but ran headfirst into two stoic pitching performances from Kelly Franks, including a perfect game, as the Huskies (29-25, 15-15 NSIC) swept the day's games, 7-0 and 5-1, that brought U-Mary's season to a screeching halt.
 
The tone was set early in the first contest between the teams, as Franks struck out two of the first three Marauder batters in the top of the first inning, while the Huskies got two runs on two hits to jump on top early as U-Mary went into the second inning down 2-0.
 
Unfortunately, Franks was nigh untouchable in the first game as she struck out 17 batters in 21 at bats to pave the way for the perfect game. St. Cloud's offense responded to the dominant showing in the circle by chipping away at Nena Dudley with singles here and there, and forcing her out of the game by the third inning. MeLanie Rodriguez came in to relieve Dudley at that point, but it made little difference as the Huskies continued to move their runners up one base at a time en route to a 7-0 victory.
 
The outlook in the conference standing was very much in the Marauder's favor after the first game, as they still needed only one win against the Huskies to reach the tournament, but Franks got the start in the circle for game two and once again turned in another solid performance.
 
Rodriguez got the start for U-Mary in second game and, outside of the first inning, pitched a solid game for the Marauders. The Huskies got a leadoff single from Alyssa Coletto in the bottom of the first, followed up by Abby Bunnel reaching on an error. Taylor Thomas loaded the bases up with a single of her own, and Jessica Goerger brought them all home with one swing of the bat as she sent a blast over the fence for a grand slam and put the Marauders in a 4-0 hole after the first.
 
Amber Gamboa broke up the hitless streak for U-Mary with a single in the top of the second, but it made little difference as Franks kept U-Mary through five innings. Meanwhile, the Huskies got another run in the bottom of the second when Coletto reached on an error, advanced to second on a walk to Bunnell, stole third base, and scored on a groundball to the shortstop from Thomas.
 
The Marauders lone run came in the top of the sixth when Alana Norman singled with one out in the inning, stole second base, and scored on a two-out single from Demaree Rodriguez. By then, however, it wouldn't be enough as Franks forced a groundout from the leadoff batter in the top of the seventh and struck out the final two to end the game, dashing any postseason hopes the Marauders had in a 5-1 loss.
 
MeLanie did her best to match her opponent pitch-for-pitch, as she threw six innings with only eight hits and three earned runs given up.
 
This marks the first time since 2009 that U-Mary has failed to advance to the conference tournament, and the follow-up 2010 team was highlighted by a then-best 31-win season. Though the season is in fact over for the Marauders, they have plenty to look forward to for the 2016 season. The Marauders will have 11 players returning, all with extensive playing experience, as they look to build on a youthful roster.
 
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