Melbourne, Fla. - The Marian softball team has continued their red-hot start to the 2024 season, as the Knights landed wins over Cornerstone and Keiser to improve to 8-0 on the week in Florida. Marian is 10-0 overall this season.
Game 1 | Marian 6-1 Cornerstone
Jaylah Guilliam got the ball in game one, and worked through some first inning struggles as a one-out triple and safety squeeze base hit scored the opening run of the morning. Guilliam would strand a runner at second to keep a 1-0 score on the board, and in the bottom of the first the Knights responded with three runs, getting the first of their four hits on a
Savannah Harweger single.
Abby Madere doubled in the shortstop, and an errant throw from the Golden Eagles on
Sierra Norman's base hit pushed another run home.
Hayley Greene would put the third run on the board, as her fielder's choice scored Norman to end the first inning with a 3-1 lead.
Guilliam settled in and pitched a scoreless game to close her outing, stranding two runners in the second as a double was left out to dry, while in the third a runner was stranded at third with two groundouts getting the senior and her defense off the field. Marian looked to add to their lead in the third inning as singles from Madere and Norman led the frame on a positive note, but groundouts up the middle would leave Marian with three runners on base. Guilliam kept going despite not seeing insurance in the third, pitching a perfect fourth inning while in the fifth two runners were left on base with a pair of foul outs.
The senior pitcher ended her outing after scattering a walked batter in the top of the sixth, getting back-to-back strikeouts to protect Marian's 3-1 lead entering the bottom half. The Knights were able to connect their bats for runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, as a one-out walk drawn by Harweger ignited the offense. Harweger stole second and then scored on an error in the outfield on
Anna Pritchett's single, while a triple from Madere scored her fellow outfielder. Madere would score on an RBI groundout hit by Norman to stop the scoring with Marian on top 6-1, and after gaining the cushion,
Lauren Mayer pitched a flawless seventh to close out the victory.
The Knights had 11 hits in the game, with Madere leading the team as her double and triple helped her lead the team in RBI with two. Harweger, Pritchett, and Norman each had two hits, and Greene and
Lily Wendt each had one base hit. Guilliam collected her third win on the year, getting a season-best six strikeouts in the win while allowing five hits. Mayer threw seven pitches in her lone inning of work, getting three ground ball outs.
Game 2 | Marian 7-1 Keiser
The Knights wasted no time getting on the board in game two against Keiser on Friday, as
Lily Wendt charged a two-out single to right field to bring home
Abby Madere as part of a two-hit inning.
Olivia Stunkel worked quickly in the home half stranding a lead-off single with two strikeouts, and in the top of the second Marian drove in two more runs as
Brooke Knox and
Savannah Harweger hit consecutive sacrifice flies to score
Grace Meyer and
Jenna Minnix, providing a 3-0 lead.
Stunkel worked around a hit in both the second and third innings, getting a double play to end the third frame of the afternoon. The pitcher gained another run of support in the top of the fourth inning as a lead-off walk drawn by Meyer came in to score on Knox's RBI triple. Stunkel would face trouble in the fourth inning as three base hits put runners on base, but the defense of the junior pitcher was strong and kept the shutout in tact with Marian leading 4-0.
Marian would score another run in the top of the fifth as singles by
Sierra Norman and Wendt helped produce a run. The shutout would be lost in the ensuing half inning as Stunkel walked and hit the first two batters of the inning, bringing on
Macy Coan out of the bullpen. Coan allowed a bunt single that would load the bases, but a double play turned by Knox, Harweger, and Norman would limit the damage to one run, as the Knights avoided major harm with the freshman keeping her team on top 5-1.
Coan finished strong allowing just one base runner in the final two innings of the game, and in the top of the seventh Marian added two more runs with Meyer recording an RBI double and Minnix plating an RBI single, capping the scoring in the 7-1 win.
Meyer and Wendt headlined the box score for the offense, combining for five of the 10 base hits. Knox was tied for the team-lead in the game with two RBI, and
Abby Madere reached base twice on two walks. Stunkel earned the win in the circle pitching into the fifth inning, getting three strikeouts while allowing six hits. Coan allowed just two hits in relief, facing 10 batters.
The Knights end their spring break tour on Saturday, taking on Aquinas and Florida National at 10:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos and more.
