The Benedictine University softball team hosted Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference foe Dominican University in a key Sunday doubleheader. Finishing the doubleheader ahead of incoming rain, the Eagles (26-9, 13-5) and Stars (23-11, 11-7) split the day's games. DU took game one 1-0 in eight innings, while BenU won game two 6-1.

Game One

Both BenU's Holly Haberkorn and DU's Michelle Behrens cruised through the games first three innings, as the Stars did not record a hit and BenU managed just three baserunners on a walk, hit, and an error. Dominican managed to record a hit for the first time on a fourth-inning double, but Haberkorn stranded the runner on second. BenU would threaten in the bottom half of the fourth inning, loading the bases with two outs. Second baseman Chelsea White hit a line drive right into the glove of DU left fielder Allie Evans to end the threat.

Dominican left two runners on in the fifth, no team reached base in the sixth, and both teams stranded leadoff singles in the seventh. In the extra frame, Dominican singled twice with one out to put runners on first and second. After a pop-up to second base, the Stars singled home a run to take a 1-0 lead. BenU would go down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning, with Evans making a diving play to end the game.

Haberkorn took the tough loss, tossing all eight innings while allowing just one run on seven hits, no walks, and seven strikeouts. Just Sarah Koch, Haberkorn, and Alex Daviera recorded hits for BenU, with Koch recording a double and Kelli Holstine stealing a base.

Game Two

The Stars struck first in game two, doubling home a run in the top of the second. After going down in order in the first and stranding a leadoff double from Koch in the second, BenU erupted for five hits and three runs in the bottom of the third. After a leadoff single from Holstine and a double down the left field line from White, leadoff hitter Shannon Fritsche singled home Holstine. One batter later, Jenna Boyajian laid down a bunt single to score White. Later in the inning, Koch hit her first of two sacrafice flies to score Fritsche and take a 3-0 Eagles lead.

BenU starter Melissa Guzior (win, seven innings pitched, one run, six hits, three walks, three strikeouts) pitched out of jams in the fourth and fifth innings to hold the Stars at bay. In the bottom of the fifth, Kailee Cable tripled to center field with two runners on and one out to built the Benedictine lead to four. Koch's second sacrafice fly one batter later put the Eagles up 6-1, and Guzior held DU hitless the rest of the way to earn the win.

At the plate, the Eagles tallied nine hits, with Fritsche and Holstine each having two-hit days. Fritsche and Boyajian also stole bases. Guzior moved to 10-2 on the season with the win.

The Eagles are back in action on Friday when the Cougars of Concordia University Chicago visit Lisle. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Live audio, video, and statistics will be available at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/benu/.