Marquez Homers Twice in GPAC Softball Opener

Softball played their home opener on Friday morning as they hosted Briar Cliff in GPAC play. It marked the conference opener for the Tigers as well with the Chargers having played on Thursday in Hastings. Both teams took advantage of the wind blowing out early on before the pitchers settled in.

Briar Cliff struck in the top of the first inning with three runs on a home run. Doane answered back with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Anna Prauner led off the inning for the Tigers with a solo home run and Marisa Marquez tied the game later in the frame with a two-run home run.

In the second inning, the Chargers regained the lead with two runs on a single to go in front, 5-3. Doane tied the game in the bottom of the third as Jasmine Villegas and Katelyn Hays drove in a run each with a two-out single.

Doane took the lead in the fourth inning on a two-out, two-run home run by Marquez. Meanwhile, Faith Molina had settled in and threw five scoreless innings to end the game.

Molina picked up the win as she went the distance, allowing five runs on nine hits and a walk while striking six over 7.0 innings. She limited the Chargers to three hits over the final five innings.

The Tigers had 12 hits in the game. Marquez went 2-for-2 with two runs and four RBI behind her two home runs. Milannie Gonzalez was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Jeryn Allen was 2-for-3.

Game two started approximately 25 minutes following the conclusion of game one.