MARSHALL, Minn. - Solid pitching was the name of the game this afternoon as the University of Mary Softball team took on Southwest Minnesota State University and finally broke through in the win column in the conference schedule.
 
The Marauders (7-21, 1-8 NSIC) couldn't get the offense going to support MeLanie Rodriguez's strong outing in the circle and eventually dropped a 4-1 mark in game one to the Mustangs (10-19, 6-6 NSIC), but rebounded with an dominant all-around performance from Brieann Backes and the rest of the U-Mary defense for the 2-1 win in game two.
 
GAME ONE
 
Southwest Minnesota State broke through in the first game as Sam Flack drove the 2-2 pitch from Rodriguez over the left field fence for two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but the Marauder hurler quickly fell back into the groove and held the Mustangs scoreless through the next three innings to keep the score at 2-0 heading into the fifth.
 
Meanwhile, U-Mary's offense struggled to get in gear as they went down in order in the first two innings before Colleen Crutchfield reached on a Mustang miscue in the top of the third, but after advancing on a single from Alana Norman, she was stranded at second as Alex O'Connor forced a groundball out to end the inning.
 
Flack had a hand in every run scored for Southwest Minnesota State in the game, with the final two coming in the bottom of the fifth as she singled up the middle to bring in Victoria Brooks for a 3-0 Mustang lead and got caught in a rundown between first and second base to eventually score Janae Annetts for a 4-0 lead favoring the home team.
 
U-Mary's lone run came in the top of the sixth as Shawnee Zink led the inning off with a solo shot to left center, but O'Connor ensured the Mustangs would remain comfortably ahead as she retired the next three Marauder hitters and retired U-Mary in order in the top of the seventh to cement the score at 4-1.
 
Rodriguez went the distance in the circle once again for the Marauders as she took the complete game loss with six hits allowed, struck out three and issued two walks.
 
Norman recorded two hits in the contest, both singles, while Zink's home run and Demaree Rodriguez's single accounted for all of U-Mary's hits in the first game of the doubleheader.
 
GAME TWO
 
The backend of the doubleheader featured a good back-and-forth between both teams as Backes stood toe-to-toe with Shelby Crank for the length of the pitcher's duel.
 
Norman led the game off with a single in the top of the first, but was caught stealing during Kylie Alto's at bat before the freshman went down swinging for two quick outs. Zink carried her momentum from the first game with a double to right center and advanced to third on a passed ball, but was stuck 60 feet from home plate as Crank forced a fly ball from Demaree Rodriguez to end the scoring threat.
 
The Mustangs hit into a similar situation in the bottom half of the inning as Flack drove a pitch back up the middle for a two-out single, followed by Mackenzie Clouse's single to center field for runners at first and second, but Backes quieted the rally with a fly ball from Taylor Chavez to keep the game scoreless heading into the second.
 
The second inning was even quieter as Taylor Mendez recorded the only hit with her one-out single in the top half, followed by Taylor Koloc drawing the walk and stealing second in the bottom half, but once again both runners were stranded on the bases as each pitcher forced groundballs that put a stop to any scoring opportunities.
 
The Marauders finally got on the board in the top of the third as Alto drove the 0-2 pitch to left center for a two-out double and scored on Zink's single to right field for a 1-0 lead favoring the visitors heading into the bottom half of the inning. Southwest Minnesota State had a response during their at bat as Karmann Carroll led off the order with a double to left center on the first pitch she saw, followed by a bunt single from Annetts to put runners at the corners with nobody out.
 
Backes got help from her defense, though, as she forced a popup from Flack for the first out and recorded the double play on the groundball from Clouse as the Mustang was thrown out at first base and the return throw from Zink retired Carroll at the plate to keep the score at 1-0. Mendez threatened to extend U-Mary's lead in the top of the fourth, but was caught trying to extend a single into a double, while the Mustangs went down in order in the bottom half with consecutive ground balls to keep the Marauders on top.
 
Southwest Minnesota State got on the board in the bottom of the fifth as Koloc tied the game with one swing of the bat that drove an 0-2 pitch over the left field fence, but Backes quickly returned to form with ground ball, popup, and ground ball to quell any hopes of a Mustang rally.
 
U-Mary retook the lead in the top of the seventh, started by Crutchfield's leadoff walk on four straight pitches and followed up by Alexandra McDermott's single to second base for runners at first and second. Lex Hubbard increased the pressure with her sacrifice bunt that moved them one base closer to home, and Norman proved her speed was enough of a distraction to bring the run home as her ground ball back to the pitcher forced an immediate response from Crank and opened the door that scored Crutchfield, putting the Marauders ahead at 2-1 going into the final at bat.
 
Backes teamed up with her defense to bring the win home as she forced a ground ball and popup from the first two batters for two quick outs, and despite Victoria Brooks' single for one last gasp, Backes closed the game out with a popup from Carroll to finalize the score at 2-1 for the first conference win for U-Mary of the regular season.
 
Backes scattered seven hits over seven innings of work and issued only one walk in the complete game win.
 
Zink was a perfect 3-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI, while Norman and Mendez each added two more singles to their season totals.
 
The Marauders will spend next week at home as they host Minnesota State University Moorhead on Wednesday, April 6 at 2 PM, and will take on Upper Iowa University and Winona State University over the weekend starting on April 9.
 
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