Alverno College Athletics - Home of the Inferno

MILWAUKEE -- The opening round game of the Northern Athletics Conference tournament between No. 4 Dominican University and No. 5 Marian University looked to be a close one from the onset, as both teams had identical 16-8 NAC records heading into today’s game at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wis. Suspicions proved true, as the Stars and the Sabres were deadlocked in a 0-0 tie until Dominican came out swinging in bottom in the sixth inning to take the game, 2-1, advancing to tomorrow’s first intermediate round game where they will face No. 1 Aurora University at 9 a.m.

After the Sabres got on the board with two consecutive hits to score one run in the top of the sixth inning, Dominican’s Katie Jensen (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) stepped to the plate and cracked a 2 RBI bomb over the fence in left-center to put her team in the lead.

Up to the point of the scoring burst in the sixth, the game was a back-and-forth war between the teams showcasing the strengths of both squads’ pitching and defense. Marian’s Kristin Rose (Brownsville/Lomira) and Dominican’s Jori Cicale (Steger, Ill./Marian Catholic) scattered five and six hits, respectively, making it difficult for either team to find consistency on offense.

The Stars came the closest to scoring the first run at the bottom of the fourth inning after loading the bases. Pinch runner Katy Somerfield (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) was initially called safe on a close play at the plate, but the call was almost instantly rescinded and she was called out on the force to keep the Stars scoreless for the time being.

Jensen and designated player Shelley Kurcz (Crown Point, Ind./Prairie State) led Dominican at the plate, as each batted 2-for-3 in the game. The Sabres were also led by their designated player, Jamie Whitehead (Kimberly), who was a perfect 3-for-3 with her team’s solo RBI in the game.

Cicale picked up the win in the circle for the Stars, going the distance for all seven innings with three strikeouts. Rose was credited with the loss, tossing 5.1 innings with four strikeouts, before she was relieved by Cherise Waltz (South Byron/Oakfield) to pitch the final two outs of the sixth inning following the Stars’ home run.

Marian will get one more chance to notch a win in the double-elimination tournament, and is set to play at 1 p.m. on Friday where they will face the loser of tomorrow’s game four.