During the off-season, a disappointing loss at a year ago at Nettleton drove members of the Marion softball team. Team 23 has its sights set on a conference title and deep playoff run, and to many, that would begin by defending their home turf, but especially the Nettleton Raiders. That motivation shone through on Monday night when Marion (9-4 overall, 5-1 5A East) outscored Nettleton (4-9, 0-6) by a combined 21-1 in a two-game sweep of the Raiders at Marion Sports Complex. The Patriots pounded out nine hits in the opener, while senior southpaw Anna Murphy fired a complete game two-hitter at the Raiders in a 7-1 victory. Marion's offense stayed hot in the nightcap, recording 16 more hits, while walking four times and not striking out once to support junior hurler Anna Hitchman as the Pats earned a 14-0 decision in six innings. GAME ONE MARION 7, NETTLETON 1 Marion got two hits apiece from senior infielder Brianna Morquecho (2-3 against Nettleton with three RBI, a run scored, and a walk), junior Ella McConnell (2-4 with two runs), and Murphy helped her own cause by going 2-4 at the plate. Morquecho and McConnell stroked doubles for Marion, while Hitchman plated a pair of runs with a two-bagger of her own. Junior Kelsey Eppes roped a triple in the opener and scored a run. Murphy dazzled the Raiders inside the circle, surrendering just two hits, allowing a single unearned run, and striking out three. The Pats started the scoring in the bottom of the second when freshman Alexis Jones stole home and the hosts led 1-0 after two. Hitchman delivered senior Kelsey Baker on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third, and the Pats blew it open by scoring three times in the bottom of the fourth. McConnell sparked the rally when she stroked a single to left field just before sophomore Chloe Miller reached on a fielder's choice. Morquecho delivered both runs to the plate with her double for a 4-0 Marion lead. Hitchman plated Morquecho with a double of her own as the Patriot advantage hit 5-0 entering the fifth inning. McConnell and Morquecho were at it again in the bottom of the fifth when McConnell smoked a double down the left-field line and scored on Morquecho's hit. Eppes roped a one-out triple in the bottom of the sixth and scored on senior catcher Jacey Holder's bunt to cap the scoring. Murphy made the lead stand by retiring 15 consecutive Nettleton batters, spanning the first and sixth innings. Nettleton scratched its fun out by taking advantage of an error and Murphy's only two walks of the day. GAME TWO MARION 14, NETTLETON 1 (six innings) Marion took command from the first pitch of the nightcap as senior centerfielder and Jefferson College signee McKenzie Shinabery (3-5 in the second game with three RBI and three runs scored) deposited the initial offering behind the left-field fence for an early 1-0 lead. The Marion rally was extended when Morquecho (4-5 with three runs and two RBI) tripled and scored on Baker's (2-5 with two RBI and two runs) sac fly. The Pats scored a third time in the first when Holder (2-3 with an RBI and a walk) singled in Jones for a 3-0 lead. Shinabery was up to her old tricks again leading off the top of the second when she doubled ahead of a Morquecho single. Marion loaded the bags when Baker reached on an error, and Eppes plated Shinabery with a sac fly and a 4-0 Patriot lead. Marion blew the game wide open with a four-run third inning when Murphy (2-4 with a run and an RBI) singled and McConnell reached on a hit-by-pitch leading off the inning. Shinabery delivered Murphy with a sac fly as McConnell advanced to third, and Morquecho chased in McConnell with a single and a 6-0 Marion lead. Baker singled and scored on Hitchman's double to cap the Marion run and give the Pats an 8-0 lead headed to the bottom of the third. Hitchman ensured the run support would stand up as she allowed only six Raider baserunners in six innings of work. The all-conference performer of a season ago struck out five batters as she threw her second shutout of the spring. The teams swapped zeroes in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Marion machine hit overdrive in the top of the sixth when Eppes reached on an error and Holder singled. The Pats executed a double steal where Eppes swiped home and Maddie Cupples nabbed third. Cupples came down on Murphy's groundout to push the Pats in front 10-0. Miller walked with two outs and scored on Shinabery's two-bagger, and Morquecho took Shinabery's place when the infielder ripped a double of her own. When Shinabery scored, it was 12-0 in favor of the Pats. Baker delivered Morquecho and Jones with a single to cap the scoring. WHAT'S NEXT? Marion hosts Senatobia, Mississippi on Thursday for a varsity/junior varsity contest beginning at 4:30 p.m. The Pats stay home next Tuesday when they host Paragould for a key 5A East conference doubleheader which also begins at 4:30. 5A EAST RESULTS FROM APRIL 3 Marion 7, Nettleton 1 Marion 14, Nettleton 0 Greene County Tech 15, W. Memphis 0 Greene County Tech 17, W. Memphis 2 Searcy 5, Paragould 1 Searcy 9, Paragould 3 Valley View at Batesville doubleheader is scheduled for April 4. 5A EAST STANDINGS AS OF APRIL 4 SCHOOL CONF. RECORD (Top 4 make state playoffs in Marion) Greene County Tech 6-0 Marion 5-1 Valley View 3-1 Searcy 4-2 Batesville 2-2 Paragould 1-5 W. Memphis 1-5 Nettleton 0-6