INDIANAPOLIS – Fans at MU Softball Diamond were on the edge of their seats in game two of the doubleheader as the Marian softball team took nine innings to pick up the 4-3 win against St. Francis (Ind.) to extend their win streak to 27. The pair of conference wins against the Cougars improves their record to 16-0 in league play, and 27-1 overall.
Game 1 | Marian 2-0 St. Francis
Once again it was Olivia Stunkel absolutely dealing through the first two innings, going one-two-three in both and picking up three strikeouts. The Marian offense helped Stunkel out in the bottom of the first as Savannah Harweger stole home on the wild pitch to put the Knights up 1-0 after one inning of play.
In innings two and three the Knights managed a pair of hits, but were unable to execute as runners were left on base. Marian's defense continued to be strong, picking up the ground out and two pop outs to close out the top of the fifth, before the bottom of the fifth started to see a little more action.
Brooke Knox kicked things off for Marian with her single to right field before advancing to second on Anna Pritchett's sacrifice bunt. Harweger continued the offense with her single up the middle to help advance Knox home, giving Marian the 2-0 lead after five innings of play.
St. Francis saw themselves with a chance to score after Aubrey Dunnick made her way to third. However, Stunkel stayed poised as she closed out the top half of inning six. Marian registered two hits in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to add to their lead after two were left on base.
Holding the two-run lead, Stunkel put away the Cougars as she struck out two in her final three batters faced, guiding the Knights to the 2-0 victory.
Stunkel picked up her 13th win after the complete game, striking out eight and giving up only one hit. In Marian's eight hits, Harweger led the way with three, while also registering an RBI. Knox picked up two hits, while Jenna Minnix, Abby Madere, and Brenna Fink all added a hit.
Game 2 | Marian 4-3 St. Francis | 9 Innings
After a scoreless first inning, St. Francis struck first by scoring the first run of the game. The visitors held the lead for an inning and a half as Marian went three up three down in the bottom of the second. A double by Knox in the bottom of the third and a single up the middle from Harweger allowed the Knights to put their first run on the scoreboard to even the game at 1-1 after three.
The Cougars had the quick answer with a single through the left side that brought another run in to take the one-run lead once again. Sydney Wilson managed to get out of the inning, leaving three stranded on base.
Marian tied things up after Sierra Norman homered to left center, before back-to-back doubles from Grace Meyer and Hayley Greene allowed the Knights to gather the 3-2 advantage. Neither team could produce in the fifth inning, but three hits by the Cougars in the top of the sixth helped them tie the game at 3-3.
Wilson held St. Francis scoreless in the top half of the seventh inning, giving Marian the chance to win the game in the bottom half of the inning. However, the Knights struggled to get the bats going as they would head into extra innings. With runners on first and second to start the top of the eighth, Stunkel was called upon to help the Knights hold off the scrappy St. Francis squad. The Cougars put away Marian in the bottom of the eighth to send the game into nine innings. Stunkel walked her first batter faced in top half, but struck her next and forced the fly out to Minnix in centerfield to give the Knights the opportunity to put away the game in the bottom half of the ninth.
Mackenzie Dalton singled to right field to build some momentum for Marian before a sacrifice bunt from Pritchett advanced Dalton to second. Dalton made her way to third after Harweger hit the single up the left side before Minnix was walked to load the bases. Grace Meyer played hero as she put one in play, allowing Dalton to score, giving Marian the 4-3 win.
Norman had the Knights' lone homerun on the day, while Meyer, Greene, and Knox all recorded a double. Harweger led Marian with four hits and Knox posted two. Stunkel picked up the win after coming in for the relief, allowing no hits and throwing two strikeouts.
Marian will have a three-day break before returning to action on Monday, April 10 when they host Spring Arbor for at 1 p.m.
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