MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Marian softball team notched their 10th and 11th consecutive wins Saturday morning, finishing their spring break trip with a perfect 10-0 record as Marian defeated both Lourdes and Concordia. Marian's two wins in their undefeated week give them an 11-1 overall record as they return to Indiana. 

GAME 1 | Marian 9-3 Lourdes

After getting a quick three-up, three-down first inning from Lauren Mayer, the Knights wasted no time scoring in the first inning as a Sierra Norman and Savannah Baker scored on a two-RBI double from Hayley Greene. Mayer remained perfect through the second after collecting a 2-0 lead, as her defense made three straight outs to bring the bats back to the dish. A pair of errors helped Caroline Roop get into scoring position, setting up Caitlyn Phillips who delivered an RBI single to tack another run on the board. Back to back singles from Savannah Harweger and Jenna Minnix loaded the bases, and a wild pitch would help score Phillips. Marian got two more runs in the inning on a single from Norman as she cleared the bases, pushing the lead to 6-0.

Mayer came back for the third and allowed her first two hits of the game, yielding a run on a fielder's choice putout at second base. Mayer closed the third with a 6-1 lead, and after the fourth inning the freshman's lead was cut to three as Lourdes managed a pair of singles, scoring on a sacrifice fly and a passed ball. In the fifth Sydney Wilson came in out of the bullpen, and stranded a one-out single to keep the 6-3 Marian advantage stable. 

The score stayed static in the sixth as Wilson tossed a perfect frame, and in the home half the lead charged back to six. A Harweger single scored Phillips after the Gray Wolves committed a throwing error, and the Marian shortstop quickly scored from third on a wild pitch. Savannah Baker doubled later in the inning, and Sierra Norman scored on a sacrifice fly from Brooke Knox to push the score to 9-3. Wilson completed the game in the top of the seventh, stranding a double and an infield single to complete Marian's victory.

Mayer earned the win in her first collegiate start, improving to 2-0 on the year after throwing four innings and allowing three runs. Wilson pitched a nine-out save stranding three hits, facing 12 batters in relief. Marian totaled 11 hits as a team in the win, with Norman's 3-4 game leading the team. Phillips went 3-3 in the win scoring twice, while Harweger had two runs scored and a pair of hits. 

GAME 2 | Marian 4-2 Concordia

Unlike the first game, offense was difficult to come by for Marian in the second as Concordia held the Knights scoreless through five innings. Marian was retired in order in the first, and in the second saw a single by Grace Meyer turn into no damage. On the other side, the Cardinals were able to get off to a quick start, playing small ball before a double off of Olivia Stunkel brought home the game's first run in the opening inning. Stunkel was able to strand a hit in the second inning, but in the third yielded a second run as Concordia tagged an RBI double off of the sophomore. 

Marian trailed 2-0 after three complete, and continued to struggle at the plate as they were retired in order in the fourth and fifth innings. Stunkel was able to keep Marian in the game as she perfect in innings four and five, racking up three strikeouts over the six outs. In the sixth Marian finally broke through, as Caitlyn Phillips reached on an infield single. An RBI double from Savannah Harweger drove in the Knights' first run, while a single from Sierra Norman and error on the Cardinals defense allowed Harweger to score and tie the game. Marian kept attacking at the plate as Hayley Greene ripped an RBI triple to give the Knights a lead, and after a pitching change Abby Madere tagged an RBI double to cap the scoring.

The five-hit frame helped Marian take a 4-2 lead, which was enough cushion as the Knights were able to cruise to victory behind Stunkel, who wrapped her complete game with back to back perfect frames in the sixth and the seventh. Stunkel earned her fifth win of the week with the performance, allowing five hits and two runs in the game. Harweger had Marian's lone multi-hit game, while Greene's triple and Madere's double provided the fireworks and complete the win. 

The Knights will return home to host their Crossroads League opener, which is scheduled to open play at the Marian Softball Diamond on Tuesday, March 14 against Grace College.

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