The Dominican University softball team split a Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) doubleheader on Sunday with the Marian University Sabres, dropping game one 2-1 before taking game two 4-2 behind a three-run fifth.

Jori Cicale (Steger, Ill.) took the loss in the circle for the Stars in game one, falling to 7-4 on the season. Cicale ran into trouble in the bottom of the second, walking the first two hitters of the inning. After striking out Nikki Ponticelli, Cicale hit the Sabres’ number seven hitter and then gave up a single to Niki LaPlant to plate the first run of the ballgame. Kaitlin Jarvis then grounded out to short for the second out of the inning but Aubrey O’Brien came across to score what would prove to be the game winner.

Offensively, the Stars didn’t pick up their first hit of the game until the top of the fifth when Kristen Look (Frankfort, Ill.) ripped a one-out single with Andrea Pinarski (Goshen, Ind.) on first. The two moved up 60-feet as Mary Costello (Chicago, Ill.) grounded out to second. However, the threat was ended as the Sabres’ Cherise Waltz struck out Gina Palumbo (Northlake, Ill.) to end the threat.

Dominican finally broke through in the top of the seventh as Pinarski reached on an error and then scored on a one-out double by Costello. Palumbo lined out for the second out before Melissa Summaria (Algonquin, Ill.) roped a single to move Costello to third. Waltz then got Beth Santor (Oak Lawn, Ill.) to ground out to end the game.

Cicale surrendered just four hits and two walks in the losing effort. However, the Stars’ offense managed just four base-runners on four hits.

In game two, the Stars drew first blood, as Jessica Honeycutt (Peru, Ind.) lined a one-out single.   The Stars’ speedster then stole second before scoring on a pair of wild pitches.

In the fifth, the Stars plated three more runs as Honeycutt reached on a one-out bunt single. Sarah Budz (Orland Park, Ill.) promptly ripped a single to put runners at first and second for Emily Mahoney (Crystal Lake, Ill.). Mahoney ripped a single to push across Honeycutt. Pinarski followed with a double, scoring Budz. Mahoney then scored on a sac fly by Look.

The Sabres answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead in half. However, Mahoney pitched around a pair of seventh inning walks to pick up the win. The Stars’ right-hander scattered eight hits and four walks over seven innings to improve to 10-4 on the season.

Offensively, the Stars rapped out ten hits, led by Honeycutt who went 4-for-4 with four singles and a pair of runs scored.

The Stars will return to action on Monday, taking on the Lakeland College Muskies in Sheboygan, Wis. The first pitch of the NAC doubleheader is scheduled for 3:00 PM.