MOUNT VERNON, Ohio ­­– The Marian softball team kicked off the Crossroads League Tournament with the 7-1 victory against Spring Arbor, advancing to the winner's bracket tomorrow at 3 p.m. The win against the Cougars moves Marian to 43-6 on the season.

Spring Arbor got things going in the top of the first with their run coming from an RBI single, but Marian answered right back in the bottom half of the inning with Sierra Norman hitting the RBI single to score Savannah Harweger who walked to begin the inning.

The next two innings were quite for both teams as neither team could register a hit. Olivia Stunkel struck out three through the two innings to help keep the score locked at 1-1. Stunkel continued to dish out strikes as she picked up two more looking strikeouts.

Marian's bats got hot in the bottom of the fourth inning, rattling off five hits and five runs. Back-to-back singles from Abby Madere and Sierra Norman began the hitting frenzy for the Knights, as Hayley Greene would single next to score Madere. A passed ball allowed Norman to tack on another run before Savannah Baker notched the RBI single for another run. The Knights added two more runs before the Cougars could put away the inning, with Mackenzie Dalton singling to send in Grace Meyer and Baker made her way home later to extend the Marian lead to 6-1.

A quick three up three down by the Marian defense gave the Knights momentum going into the bottom of the fifth, as Madere had the solo homerun to lead off the inning. However, the Cougars were able to work through the lineup and leave a runner stranded. Sydney Wilson came in for Stunkel in the top of the sixth inning to finish off the game. Wilson gave up only one hit in her two innings pitched to help finish off Spring Arbor 7-1.

In Marian's nine hits, Norman led with three, while Madere added two hits that included the only homerun of the game. Four other Knights picked up a hit in the win and five recorded an RBI. Stunkel dished out six strikeouts in her five innings pitched, giving up one run to pick up the win.

Marian will play their second game of the Crossroads League Tournament tomorrow at 3 p.m. when they take on the winner of Indiana Wesleyan and Mt. Vernon Nazarene.

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