INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian softball team split with Spring Arbor on Monday afternoon, falling 2-0 in game one before returning the favor in game two 4-0. The game one loss snapped the Knights' 27-game win streak, making their record 28-2 overall and 17-1 in Crossroads League play.

Game 1 | Marian 0-2 Spring Arbor

Spring Arbor got out to a hot start with a double in left center to start the hitting. The Cougars would score their first one after a single to right field sent in Emmalee Hamp who hit the double previously. Olivia Stunkel stayed poised and struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning, trailing 1-0.

The Marian offense came out flat to start with Jenna Minnix registering the only hit in the bottom of the first inning. Minnix would then steal to reach second before Grace Meyer walked to put two runners on for the Knights. However, the Knights were unable to execute as they left two stranded.

Both pitchers worked quick in the next two innings as both Stunkel and Hamp went three up three down. Abby Madere gave the Knights a chance in the bottom of the fourth with her single to right field, advancing Hayley Greene on the play who walked before. Runners were left on once again for Marian to still trail 1-0.

A homerun by the Cougars increased their lead to 2-0 in the top of the sixth, before retiring the next three batters for the Knights in the bottom half to the inning to hold the two-run lead going into the final inning.

Stunkel put her team in a good position as she only faced three batters in the top half of the seventh to give her team a chance to get the bats going to tie or win the game. Back-to-back singles from Madere and Mackenzie Dalton, and a single by Brooke Knox put Marian in a good position with bases loaded. Spring Arbor was able to hold off the threat by the Knights as they put away the next batter to win 2-0.

Madere led the Knights with two hits, while Minnix, Dalton, and Knox each recorded one hit. Stunkel pitched all seven innings, giving up two runs and six hits.

Game 2 | Marian 4-0 Spring Arbor

Spring Arbor picked up their bats where they left off as they got bases loaded to start inning one, but Sydney Wilson and the Marian defense got out of the inning unharmed. The Knights got on the scoreboard first to start game two as Savannah Harweger singled to left center, before stealing second to get in a good position. Minnix hit the sacrifice bunt to advance Harweger to third, before a fielder's choice allowed her to score to put the Knights up 1-0.

Greene and Madere continued Marian's offense in the bottom of the second, while Knox hit the double to send both runners home. Wilson went one-two-three with the Cougars in the next two innings to allow the 3-0 Marian lead to hold.

Marian tacked on another run in the bottom half of the fourth inning with a Norman RBI single. The Knights registered two more hits in the game before Wilson finished off the Cougars in the top of the seventh by striking out the final two batters.

Wilson continued her success in the circle, recording her 12th win of the season after recording five strikeouts and gave up no runs in Marian's 4-0 win. Harweger and Knox both posted two hits in the Knights' eight total hits, while four others recorded one hit. Norman and Madere each picked up two RBI, while Harweger scored two runs for the Knights, and Madere and Greene each scored one.



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