INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian softball team scored a ranked win in their opening game of a home twin bill Friday afternoon, defeating Indiana Wesleyan by way of a run-rule in the opening game. Marian would fall in game two, and ended the day with an overall record of 17-3 and a 6-2 mark in Crossroads League play.

GAME 1 | Marian 11-3 Indiana Wesleyan | 6 Innings
Olivia Stunkel brought her best material early Friday afternoon taking on the 17th-ranked Wildcats, tossing a perfect first and second inning as a strikeout closed each of the first two innings. The Knights efforts to provide their pitcher a lead were thwarted in the first inning as two runners were left on, but in the bottom of the second Savannah Harweger drove in a run, as her sacrifice fly pushed home Lily Wendt. 

Marian would leave two runners on as the second ended with a 1-0 lead, and Indiana Wesleyan found offense in response of their defense making a stand as they drove in two runs in the top of the third inning. Trailing on the board for the first time, Marian quickly grabbed the lead back in the home half of the inning, as Abby Madere blasted a single, setting up Sierra Norman who charged a ball over the center field wall for her third home run of the year. Norman's yard call gave Marian a 3-2 lead after three innings, and after Stunkel worked out of a jam in the top of the fourth, Jenna Minnix would come around to score an unearned run after Indiana Wesleyan errors helped Marian add to their lead.

After Stunkel's third flawless frame in the fifth, Marian extended their lead by three runs in the home half, getting a two-RBI single from Grace Meyer to run the team total to six. Two batters later Minnix ripped an RBI single through the left side, driving in the catcher to give her team a 7-2 lead. An error in the top of the sixth would allow Indiana Wesleyan to score a third run, but in the bottom of the inning the Wildcats pitching fell apart, as Brooke Knox, Madere, and Norman all walked to lead-off the inning. Abbey Hofmann ripped a single through the middle to knock home two runs, and after Lily Wendt was drilled by a pitch, back-to-back walks drawn by Meyer and Hayley Greene ended the game with an 11-3 run-rule victory.

Stunkel allowed just two hits as she dominated in the circle, striking out five batters while yielding three runs, two of which were earned. Madere and Norman dominated at the plate as both batter went 3-3 with three runs scored and a walk. Norman's home run was her third of the season, and was Marian's lone extra base hit in the game. Meyer had a two-hit game in the win, driving in three runs. The Knights drew eight walks against the Wildcats in game one, earning 10 total free trips on errors, hit batters, or walks.

GAME 2 | Marian 8-9 Indiana Wesleyan
The second act of the doubleheader felt like a roller coaster, as runs came in bunches. Indiana Wesleyan drove home three runs in the top of the first inning, as Jaylah Guilliam gave up three hits, while two errors hurt the senior's cause as the home team fell behind 3-0. The Knights managed two hits in the first two innings, but were unable to respond to the Wildcats early start to the game. The score would hold at 3-0 through the top of the third, as Guilliam was able to bounce back from her poor start by stranding a hit in the second and pitching a perfect third.

In the bottom of the third, the wild ride flipped in favor of the Knights, as Jenna Minnix drew a lead-off walk and Savannah Harweger and Brooke Knox followed with base hits. A blast to right field from Abby Madere saw two runs touch home for Marian, and an RBI single from Sierra Norman followed to tie the game. After a walk was drawn by Abbey Hofmann, Grace Meyer blasted a single to score two runs, and later in the inning would get caught in a run down to allow Hofmann to steal home as the Knights pushed in front 6-3 by the end of the inning.

Marian's lead would be short-lived, as Guilliam yielded a lead-off home run. The senior would manage to get a groundball out, but a walk and single would force a battery change, as Lily Wendt entered to catch for Macy Coan. Coan picked up a quick out on a fielder's choice groundout, but a double-steal play and single scored two Indiana Wesleyan runs, as the game drew to a 6-6 tie.

The game would remain level entering the sixth inning, as the Knights were unable to deliver a timely hit after getting runners on base in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. After leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Marian would fall behind in the top of the sixth, as a late two-out single drove in a run against Coan. The freshman managed to limit the damage to one, and saw the lead come back after the inning was completed as her offense responded in the home half. Small ball after Savannah Harweger's lead-off walk allowed the senior to score, with an error helping Abby Madere reach base and eventually move to third. Harweger tied the game on the error, and the Knights gained the lead as Norman sent a sacrifice fly to the outfield to score Madere.

Marian led 8-7 after strong sixth inning at the plate, but in the top of the seventh the lead changed hands for the final time, as reliever Lauren Mayer gave up the lead. The sophomore picked up a two outs around a single, and with the tying run on third the pitcher left a pitch over the plate for Ella Phillips, who hit the eventual game-winning two-run home run. Trailing 9-8 entering their final at bat, Marian was able to get a runner on base as Wendt reached on a single, but the Knights came up empty in their attempt to tie as Harweger flew out to deep right field to end the game on the losing end.

The Knights had 10 hits in the game, with Hofmann and Harweger each posting two. Madere, Norman, and Grace Meyer each had two RBI in the game, and Hofmann had Marian's lone extra base hit. In the circle, Mayer suffered the loss pitching the final inning, as she allowed two hits and two runs in the blown save opportunity. Guilliam allowed six hits and runs with four runs going as earned in her 3.1 innings, and Coan allowed four hits and one earned run in her 2.2 innings of work.

Marian will host Spring Arbor on Saturday afternoon as their homestand continues. First pitch of the twin bill set for 1:00 p.m.

MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos and more.