CLERMONT, Fla. - Suffering from another anemic offense in the first game, the University of Mary Softball team's offense finally came to life in the second game to earn the day three split in the Dot Richardson Spring games.
 
The Marauders (3-8) struggled to find an answer for solid pitching in the first game against the University of Findlay (5-5) in a 3-0 loss, but the offense connected for 15 hits against Quincy University (1-3) in the second game en route to a 14-3 win to earn the split on the third day.
 
GAME ONE vs UNIVERSITY OF FINDLAY
 
In a rematch from last year's contest during the spring trip, U-Mary took on the Oilers of the University of Findlay in an effort to avenge a 7-2 loss in the previous year. Findlay trotted out Chelsea McManaway in the circle as she baffled the Marauders' offense a year before, and unfortunately U-Mary's hitters were once again left without an answer for her slew of pitches.
 
Allowing just four hits over the course of the game, McManaway limited U-Mary's looks in the batter's box despite giving up three walks in the contest, with the best look for the Marauders coming in the top of the third inning as Alana Norman singled up the middle and stole second base in the following at bat.
 
Two quick outs killed any momentum generated by the senior from Spokane, Wash., and a single to shallow centerfield from Amber Gamboa gave Norman a chance to record the first run of the game for the Marauders, but a strong throw from Brooke Scherger put a stop to the scoring threat as Norman was tossed out at home to end the inning.
 
The Oilers got their first run of the game in the bottom of the first as Kelley Cejer reached on a bases-loaded fielder's choice that brought in Scherger, but the scoring threat was quickly put to rest as Brieann Backes forced a popout from the following batter for the final out.
 
Findlay added another run to their total in the bottom of the fourth after Meredith Shepherd sent a single to right field that brought in Katie Dunphy, but Shepherd was caught stealing in the following at bat as Colleen Crutchfield threw her out at second base to quell any further threat as the Marauders faced a 2-0 deficit heading into the fifth.
 
Alas, the offense continued to struggle as U-Mary managed only two hits through the remainder of the game, while the Oilers added their final run in the bottom of the sixth as Dunphy drove in Madison Arnold on a hot shot back up the middle to set the final score at 3-0 in the first game of the day, extended the Marauders' losing streak to three games.
 
Alana Norman, Taylor Mendez, Amber Gamboa and Colleen Crutchfield were the lone U-Mary batters to record a hit as Crutchfield notched the only extra-base hit on a double in the final inning.
 
Brieann Backes lasted five innings for U-Mary with two strikeouts and one walk, while MeLanie Rodriguez came in relief to go one inning pitched.
 
GAME TWO U-MARY vs QUINCY UNIVERSITY
 
Offense wouldn't be a problem in the second game as U-Mary opened up the deluge of scoring early in the first inning as the first three batters of the game got aboard as Norman drew a walk and stole second base, Demaree Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, and Taylor Mendez drew the second walk to force a pitching change from the Lady Hawks before the first out was recorded.
 
The Marauders would capitalize on the early mistakes as Amber Gamboa drove the second pitch of her at bat into the left center gap that brought in Norman and Rodriguez for a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Shawnee Zink added the last run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field that brought in Mendez for a 3-0 U-Mary lead heading into the bottom half of the inning.
 
MeLanie Rodriguez got the bill to start the second game of the day and she responded well in the circle as she limited Quincy to three hits in four innings of work, while the U-Mary offense continually moved runs across the board in the second inning as Zink singled back up the middle to bring in Demaree and Kylie Alto added two more on an RBI single to right field to bring in Zink and Mendez. Colleen Crutchfield added the seventh run for the Marauders on a double that one-hopped to the centerfield fence and brought in Alto from first base for a 7-0 lead going into the bottom of the second.
 
Quincy finally broke the tide in the bottom half of the third inning as Rachel Scrum laced the first pitch she saw to the left center gap and stood at second base after the dust settled while Jackie Farbak and Lindsey Greene made it safely home to cut U-Mary's lead down to 7-2, but MeLanie settled back in and forced two groundouts and a strikeout on the next three batters to suppress the rally and keep the Marauders comfortably ahead.
 
U-Mary added another run in the top of the fourth after Gamboa scored on a wild pitch, but the decisive inning came in the top of the fifth as Lex Hubbard drew a leadoff walk and was followed up with Alexandra McDermott reaching on a fielder's choice as her bunt was scooped up by the third baseman who elected to make a play on Hubbard advancing to second base, but the throw was not in time.
 
Meanwhile, Norman brought Hubbard home as she singled on a bunt and the errant throw came from the first baseman as nobody covered the bag and allowed Hubbard to score from third base, but the problems only compounded for the Lady Hawks as Demaree laced a single to the right center gap that brought in both McDermott and Norman for an 11-2 lead.
 
Mendez wasted little time one-upping her teammates as she sent an 0-2 pitch over the centerfield fence for her third home run of the Florida trip that extended the lead out to 13-2, while Crutchfield brought in what would be the final run for the Marauders later in the inning on a sacrifice fly to centerfield that allowed Zink to score.
 
Quincy added a desperation run in the bottom of the fifth as Greene scored on a Marauder miscue, but the lead proved to be insurmountable as Lara pitched an otherwise flawless inning as U-Mary snapped their brief skid with a 14-3 win.
 
Six Marauders finished with multiple hits as Kylie Alto and Shawnee Zink led the way with three apiece. Alto ended with three singles, two RBI and a run scored, while Zink added one double, two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Taylor Mendez finished with a home run and a single, to go with three runs and two RBI, while Demaree Rodriguez notched a double and single, two RBI and three runs of her own.
 
Colleen Crutchfield recorded a double, a single, and two RBI in the contest and Amber Gamboa rounded out the multi-hit Marauders with a pair of singles, two RBI and one run scored.
 
MeLanie Rodriguez notched her second win of the year with four innings pitched, one strikeout, one walk and three hits given up, while Taylor Lara pitched one inning in relief and recorded a strikeout.
 
The Marauders will have one game on their slate tomorrow as they gear up for the game against Alma College starting at 12 PM CDT.
 
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