INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian softball team split their final non-conference doubleheader of the season Wednesday afternoon, as the Knights scored a run-rule win over Indiana Tech in game one before suffering a 12-7 loss in game two. Marian's Savannah Harweger broke the program's career record for hits in the doubleheader, as Marian slides to 22-4 overall this season.

Game 1 | Marian 9-1 Indiana Tech | 5 Innings
The opening game of Wednesday's act started out with a scoreless battle, as Olivia Stunkel tossed a scoreless pair of innings to open the game. The junior faced the minimum in the first frame as a bunt single was caught stealing by Grace Meyer, while in the second she stranded a single and walk. Marian's offense opened the game with a single from Savannah Harweger, but the senior was left stranded at second, as Indiana Tech followed their scoreless first with a three-up, three-down effort from Savannah Bravo in the second.

Stunkel would keep a zero on the board after three innings as she made quick work of the Warriors in the third, and in the home half saw the run support fly in with an Anna Pritchett single sparking the offense. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, Abby Madere pushed in the first run with a sacrifice fly, and following her at bat Sierra Norman plated two more runs with a two-RBI single. An error in the outfield prolonged the inning, and on a double steal play Sierra Norman scored the team's fourth run, capping the 4-0 scoring burst.

Indiana Tech would respond in the top of the fourth as Katie O'Drobinak slammed a towering solo home run off of Stunkel, but after shaking off the run the junior settled in to retire the next three batters. Marian loaded in the bases in the fourth as they looked to end the game quickly, but managed just one run with Brooke Knox driving an RBI single to left field. Leading 5-1 after Stunkel faced four batters in the fifth, the Knights closed strong racking up three hits against Bravo and relief pitcher Jayme Koning. Abbey Hofmann and Brenna Fink singled to start the charge, and after a walk to Grace Meyer, Savannah Harweger drew a bases-loaded walk to score the sixth run. Knox ended the game with a strong three-RBI double to the center field fence, capping the run-rule win as 9-1 victors.

Knox starred in the game at the plate, going 2-2 with four RBI, adding a sacrifice hit and one walk. Harweger scored twice and had two hits in the win, and Anna Pritchett finished the game going 2-3. Sierra Norman had a pair of RBI in the win. In the circle, Stunkel moved to 12-0 on the season, allowing just three hits and one run in the win. 

Game 2 | Marian 7-12 Indiana Tech
Indiana Tech wasted no time trying to wash the loss out of their mouths in the second act, as they ripped a single and home run off of the Knights starter Jaylah Guilliam in the first inning. Trailing 2-0, Marian responded with a pair of walks to open the game, drawing level on the scoreboard with Sierra Norman's two RBI double. Guilliam settled in in the second and retired the side in order, and the Knights added three runs to their lead in the home half inning, with singles from Jenna Minnix and Savannah Harweger starting the party. Harweger's first hit of the game allowed the fifth year senior to break the Marian career hits record, as she passed Logan Personett for the all-time mark.

After the record was posted in the book, a two-RBI double from Abby Madere pushed Marian's lead to a pair of runs, while an RBI single from Norman ended the second inning with the Knights on top 5-2. The lead would not last long however, as Indiana Tech retaliated for three runs in the top of the third, as a pair of errors and base hits allowed the Warriors to level the score. Marian would still go on to end the third inning with a lead, as Raegan Hiatt recorded an RBI groundout to make the game a 6-5 score.

The third inning would be the last time Marian led in the game, as Indiana Tech pounded four more hits, with a three-run home run from Katie O'Brobinak ending Guilliam's outing. The Warriors led 8-6 after four complete innings as Marian was retired in order, and in the top of the fifth the guests added two more runs off of reliever Katie Lackman. Still trying to fight in the game, Marian attempted to rally in the fifth as Grace Meyer drove in Abbey Hofmann with an RBI double, while the bases loaded as Caroline Roop and Jenna Minnix drew walks. Reliever and game one starter Savannah Bravo was able to keep the Knights playing from behind however, as the Indiana Tech pitcher got Savannah Harweger to fly out to left, ending the inning with the bases full.

Trailing 10-7, Marian called on Macy Coan to keep her team in the game, with the freshman coming on in the sixth and throwing a perfect inning. Marian was unable to do anything with their trip to the plate in the sixth, and in the seventh Coan allowed three hits, two of which were RBI singles that extended Indiana Tech's lead to five runs. Marian was unable to manufacture the offensive counter-punch in the home half inning, as they were retired in order, falling 12-7 in game two.

Harweger ended the game going 1-3 at the plate, recording her school record 337th career base hit. Harweger, already the record holder for career stolen bases, is on pace to set records for walks, at bats, and batting average this season for a career. Norman finished the game 2-4 with three RBI, and Meyer also had two base hits. 

In the circle, the Knights allowed 14 hits as a staff, with Guilliam allowing six as she took her second loss. The senior threw 3.1 innings, giving up eight runs, six of which were earned. Lackman tossed 1.2 innings in relief giving up five hits and two runs, and Coan allowed three hits and two runs in her two innings in the circle.

Marian will look to avenge their loss when they jump back into Crossroads League play on Saturday, hosting Mount Vernon Nazarene at 1:00 p.m. The game will be streamed on the ISC Sports Network.

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