Columbus, Ga. - Trailing 2-1 entering the top of the sixth inning, the Marian softball team pulled off a dramatic five-run rally to go in front against No. 2 Our Lady of the Lake, with Savannah Baker's go-ahead grand slam putting the fireworks on the Knights' 6-3 win. Marian's win gives them a program record for wins in a postseason, and lifts the Knights to 51-7 overall on the year.

Pitching dominated the first three innings of the game, as the Saints' Cassandra Valdez and Olivia Stunkel went head to head. Marian was able to get a pair of singles in the first inning, but a double play in between the hits from Savannah Harweger and Abby Madere spoiled the frame. Stunkel walked the first batter of the game she faced, but recovered with three consecutive outs. Stunkel was the benefactor of a double play in the second inning after a single from Savannah Baker was stranded in the top half, and in the third inning both Valdez and Stunkel retired the side in order.

The scoreboard started to get it's exercise in the fourth inning, as Madere roped a triple into the right field corner, getting Marian their first runner of the game to reach scoring position. Two batters later Hayley Greene sent a fly ball into left field, allowing Madere to tag in an attempt to score the opening run. The throw from the outfield beat Madere to the plate, but the freshman slid right into the catcher's glove, jarring the ball loose as she crossed the plate to give Marian a 1-0 lead. 

Stunkel was perfect again in the fourth, and in the top of the fifth Marian washed a chance to score a second run, as Baker was trapped in a run down between third and home after a wild pitch. The out helped the Saints gain momentum, as they caught up to Stunkel in the bottom of the fifth with a lead-off single, breaking up the no-hit performance. A sacrifice bunt and strikeout picked up the first two outs of the inning, but the Marian pitcher was unable to successfully end the inning, allowing back to back singles that drove in two runs. 

The two runs put Marian behind for the first time since their opening round win over Columbia, but the Knights didn't flinch, as Savannah Harweger reached on an infield single, and took second on an error to start the sixth inning. Anna Pritchett drew a walk and stole second after a wild pitch in the at bat, putting her and Harweger in scoring position. Sierra Norman would get intentionally walked to load the bases, and with two outs Grace Meyer came up clutch with the game-tying RBI single to left field. The bats kept rolling, as Savannah Baker made the biggest hit of her young career, launching a grand slam to right field, driving Marian's lead to four runs.

With a 6-2 advantage at hand, head coach Scott Fleming turned to the bullpen, bringing in Sydney Wilson to get the final six outs. Wilson worked around a double in the sixth inning as her defense helped her end the inning with the four-run cushion, with the defense getting called upon again in the seventh. The senior allowed a lead-off double, but got two outs on a groundout and flyout. With two outs the Saints were able to prolong the game as a single drove in the first earned run charged to Wilson in the NAIA Tournament, while a walk and second single loaded the bases. Wilson remained calm, and was able to roll a grounout to shortstop for the final out of the game, sealing Marian's 6-3 win over Our Lady of the Lake.

Baker was the star of the game, going a perfect 3-3 with the game-winning grand slam. Harweger went 2-4 in the win and Madere was 3-4, tripling for the first time in her career. Meyer and Pritchett had Marian's other two hits in their 10-hit game. Stunkel earned the win in the circle tossing five innings, getting two strikeouts while allowing two runs on three hits. Wilson recorded her second save of the year, recording the final six outs as she gave up four hits and one run. 

Marian's win advances them in the winner's bracket, where the Knights will play the third-ranked University of the Cumberlands. The first meeting between the two programs begins at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night. 



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