Fort Wayne, Ind. - The Marian softball team continued their win streak Sunday afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader from the St. Francis Cougars for the Knights' first road conference wins of the year. Marian's win streak improves to 17 consecutive as their record stands at 17-1, while the Knights jump to 6-0 in Crossroads League play.

GAME 1 | Marian 10-2 St. Francis | 6 Innings

The Knights offense brought the energy early in game one of the day, as Marian scored in each of the first three innings. A lead-off base hit for Savannah Harweger led to the game's first run in the top of the first, as the senior crossed the plate on an RBI single from Hayley Greene. In the second inning an Abby Madere double came around to score as Harweger ripped an RBI single, and in the third the Knights would add two more. A Sierra Norman solo homerun started the top of the third with a bang, while Madere drove in an run as she reached on an error, scoring Grace Meyer. 

The 4-0 start would be enough run support early for Olivia Stunkel, who pitched a perfect first inning and stranded a one-out double in the second. In the third inning the Marian ace would allow her first run of the game as Aubrey Dunnuck took the sophomore deep for a solo shot, but Stunkel would end the frame with a strikeout. St. Francis notched one run closer in the bottom of the fourth inning, as a pair of errors plagued Marian and allowed the home team to add a run to their total. Stunkel limited the damage to one run as her second strikeout of the frame left the bases loaded, leaving Marian in front 4-2.

Marian responded in the fifth inning, getting three consecutive singles from the heart of the order to load the bases. With two outs, Harweger was able to reach on an error that scored two runs, and after the speedy shortstop stole second base and Jenna Minnix was hit by a pitch, Norman ripped a single into the outfield to add two more runs. Greene drew a bases loaded walk to end the scoring frenzy, as Marian plated five total runs in the frame with 11 batters stepping into the box, driving the lead to 9-2. 

Stunkel would throw a scoreless fifth after gaining a seven-run cushion, and in the top of the sixth Marian repeated their second inning offense, with Madere doubling, scoring three batters later on an RBI single from Harweger. Jaylah Guilliam came on in relief with the Knights leading 10-2 going into the bottom of the sixth, stranding three hits with the help of her defense to close Marian's run-rule win. 

Marian had 14 hits in the game one win, with three coming off the bats of Madere, Harweger, Norman, and Greene. Meyer and Savannah Baker had Marian's other two hits in the victory. Stunkel claimed the win in the game as she moved to 8-0 on the season, allowing three hits and two runs. Guilliam was credited with a save, allowing three hits in her inning of work.

GAME 2 | Marian 5-4 St. Francis

Unlike game one, Marian's offense was slow out of the gate as the Knights managed just three base runners in their first three innings of work. While Marian's offense started slow, the defense was fueled by Sydney Wilson, who tossed a perfect opening frame, while stranding two hits in the bottom of the second. The Cougars offense caught up to Wilson in the third, as a walk and base hit set up Paiton Iliff, who hit a three-run home run off the southpaw for the game's first runs. Wilson would allow a double before ending the inning, getting two infield groundouts to hold the score at 3-0. 

Marian charged back after giving up the game's first runs with two of their own in the top of the fourth, as Sierra Norman was able to reach on an error. A double from Grace Meyer followed the free pass, and with one out Savannah Baker ripped a two-RBI single to score both runners. Wilson stranded two runners in the fourth inning to hold a run-one game, and in the fifth Marian scored an unearned run as two errors helped Caroline Roop score on Jenna Minnix's fielder's choice. 

With the game tied 3-3, the Knights played a strong inning defensively to end the fifth, and in the sixth pulled in front with two hits. Hayley Greene reached base after getting hit by a pitch, and scored on a two-base error in right field hit off the bat of Caroline Roop. Brooke Knox followed the error with an RBI single, driving Marian in front 5-3. The pair of runs would be all Sydney Wilson needed to close the game, as she retired the side in order in the sixth inning, and in the seventh would end the game with a flyout to left, stranding the tying run on base after St. Francis able to score their fourth run with two outs.

Wilson threw a complete game win in the 5-4 victory, allowing four runs and nine hits in her complete game win. The senior moved to 7-0 following the win over St. Francis. Offensively Marian had just six hits in game two, with six different Knights recording one hit. Baker had a team-high two RBI in the win, with Brooke Knox and Caroline Roop driving in the go-ahead runs. 

Marian will take their winning streak on the road Tuesday afternoon, traveling to Bethel University for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.

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