Melbourne, Fla. - The Marian softball team earned two wins on their second day of play in Florida, closing a run-rule win against Culver-Stockton in the morning before winning a thriller against Cornerstone in the afternoon. Marian's pair of wins improves their overall record on the season to 5-1, remaining undefeated in the sunshine state.

Game 1 | Marian 10-0 Culver-Stockton (5 Innings)

The Knights jumped on top of the Wildcats early Tuesday morning, working quick on defense behind Olivia Stunkel's perfect first inning to set the tone in the home half with the bats. A lead-off single from Savannah Harweger ignited the offense, while a pair of errors quickly helped load the bases. Hayley Greene tagged a single two drive in the first two runs of the game, while the bases loaded up once again following Abby Madere's walk. With two outs, Abbi Wirey slammed a two-RBI single to left field to drive in runs three and four, and Caitlyn Phillips added an RBI single, with an errant throw bringing home Madere to cap the six-run frame.

Stunkel worked quick in the second picking up a pair of strikeouts, and in the bottom of the inning Marian scored three more runs, with Grace Meyer touching the dish on a wild pitch to start the scoring. Mackenzie Dalton picked up an RBI single, and Phillips legged out an infield single to add an RBI to her ledger, putting the Knights in great shape with a 9-0 lead after two complete. Stunkel picked up two more strikeouts in the third inning as she strayed three base hits to leave the bases loaded, and in the bottom of the third the Knights completed their scoring. Brenna Fink notched her first collegiate hit in the inning, and scored her first run as a wild pitch sent the freshman home. 

The Knights pitching staff mowed down the Wildcats in the final two innings of the game, with Jaylah Guilliam pitching a perfect second inning, and Abigail McPherson closing the game with a three-up, three-down fifth inning. Stunkel moved to 2-0 on the year with the three-inning efforts, striking out four of her 12 batters faced. McPherson notched a strikeout, as she and Guilliam both threw flawless frames to complete the 10-0 win.

At the plate Marian had 10 base hits, with Phillips producing the lone multi-hit game. Greene, Wirey, and Phillips each had two RBI in the win.

Game 2 | Marian 9-8 Cornerstone

Offense dominated the second outing of the day, as Marian and Cornerstone combined for 24 hits in the afternoon clash. Cornerstone struck first after Marian was retired in order in the first, getting a triple and RBI single in their first three plate appearances to take a quick 1-0 lead. Sydney Wilson limited the damage to just one after allowing two more hits, and in the second her offense picked up the tying run as Caroline Roop tagged an RBI sacrifice fly to score Savannah Baker who led off the inning with a walk. 

Wilson stranded the bases loaded as the Eagles tagged two more hits in the second, and in the top of the third the Knights offense found a jolt with Anna Pritchett leading off with a single. A Harweger double scored the freshman to give Marian the lead, and after two groundouts Harweger made her way home on a Baker triple. A Hayley Greene RBI single finished the frame, with Marian carrying a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the third.

Things went wrong for the Knights as the defense went back into the field, as back to back walks from Wilson to start the inning led to an RBI double. A triple in the next at bat brought home two runs, ending Wilson's day as the game moved to a tie. Guilliam was the first arm out of the pen, but she was unable to record an out as three consecutive walks helped score a run for the Wildcats. Lauren Mayer came out of the bullpen to try and end the damage, doing so but not before Culver-Stockton added two more runs on an hit batter and bases loaded walk. 

After three complete Culver-Stockton led 7-4, a lead they protected through five innings as Marian stranded two runners in both the fourth and fifth innings. Mayer settled in after entering out of the pen in the high-pressure situation, throwing a perfect fourth frame while leaving two Golden Eagles on base in the fifth. In the sixth Marian made their move, getting a jolt from a two-run homerun by Harweger that smacked the right field scoreboard. Marian kept rolling after the yard call, getting three consecutive singles with Baker's hit driving in the tying run. A walk to Greene loaded the bases, and after after a groundout Dalton delivered in a pinch hit role, smacking a two-RBI single to center field to give Marian a 9-7 lead.

Culver-Stockton would respond with an unearned run in the sixth as an errant throw from Harweger allowed a lead-off single to score, making it a one-run game. Mayer got out of the inning stranding a runner with back to back groundouts, and in the seventh the Olivia Stunkel came in for the save, doing so in perfect style as she picked up two strikeouts and an infield groundout to close the 9-8 win. 

The Knights delivered 13 of the 24 total hits in the game, getting a game-high four from Harweger who finished 4-5 with a home run and three RBI. Sierra Norman, Pritchett, and Baker each had two hits in the game, with Baker going 2-3 with two RBI and a pair of walks. Mayer threw four complete innings in relief to earn her first collegiate win, striking out two in her appearance. The freshman allowed just three hits and one walk in the game. Stunkel earned her first career save as she made her fourth-ever relief appearance, earning two strikeouts in the inning.

Marian will sit idle on Wednesday, returning to action on Thursday to play both Lourdes and Trinity Christian. The matchup with the Gray Wolves starts at 11:30 a.m.

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