INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian Knights struck first, but were unable to hold a narrow 1-0 lead for a full seven innings as the Southern Oregon Raiders rallied on Wednesday in the NAIA Opening Round to defeat Marian 1-0. The loss is the first of the week for Marian who is now 45-11 overall on the year, dropping them to the elimination bracket.

For each of the first four innings of the game, Marian starter Olivia Stunkel struggled to keep Southern Oregon runners off base, starting with a first-inning error. The junior pitcher claimed two strikeouts in the opening inning to reduce the error, and in the second inning saw three infield outs help her cause after allowing a two-out single and hitting a batter with two outs. The junior went on to walk a batter in both the third and fourth innings, but was able to receive strong defense behind her, as the Knights contained the 17th-ranked Raiders to zero runs through four innings.

Offensively, the Knights missed a golden opportunity in the first inning of the game, as Savannah Harweger, Abby Madere, and Sierra Norman each drew walks to load the bases with one out retired. A hard groundout from Grace Meyer was unable to bring home Harweger, and a flyout would go on to end the inning as the Knights stranded their first three runners to reach base. Marian was retired in their next five plate appearances as Katie Machado of the Raiders found a groove, only to see a two-out single from Abby Madere in the third inning break up the run.

A flyout would end the third inning with no score, but in the fourth Marian found some magic from Abbey Hofmann, who doubled to right-center for the team's second hit. Hofmann was able to reach third on a groundout, and after Hayley Greene drew a walk, worked with her teammate to execute a double steal. Greene was able to trigger a run-down, allowing Hofmann to swipe the plate, pushing Marian ahead 1-0 after four complete innings.

The lead would be brief, as Southern Oregon answered with a run of their own in the fifth, getting a one-out single from Faith Moultrie. Moultrie would go on to steal second, taking third as a throwing error moved her 60 feet away from the plate. Kailer Fulton grounded out in the next at bat, and Sierra Norman made a strong throw to the plate, but Meyer was unable to squeeze the ball as she applied the tag, seeing Southern Oregon score the tying run.

After ending the half inning in a 1-1 tie, Marian aimed to go right back in front in the home side of the fifth as Harweger reached on an error with one out. The shortstop's time on the base path was brief however, as she was caught stealing for the second out. Brooke Knox singled and Abby Madere to extend the inning, but a strikeout from Machado ended the rally. Southern Oregon captured the momentum in the sixth and recorded two hits in four plate appearances, as Stunkel allowed a two-out double to Piper Love to score the go-ahead run. 

Marian again tried to rally in the home half of the sixth inning, but would end the inning without base runners as Abbey Hofmann's one-out single was put aside after getting caught stealing. In the seventh inning, the Raiders extended their lead as Stunkel fell in an early hole, giving up a pair of hits and a walk through the first four batters. An RBI single from Sam Pemberton scored the fourth and fifth runs of the game, as Stunkel would exit for Macy Coan. The freshman reliever allowed two hits while picking up the final two outs, allowing one run to score as Marian trailed 6-1.

In their final trip to the plate, Marian went three-up, three-down, as they were unable to spark a rally for a second consecutive day, falling to the elimination bracket after the 6-1 defeat.

Stunkel suffered her third defeat of the season in the loss, going 6.1 innings with seven hits and six runs allowed. The junior walked three batters to four strikeouts pitched. Hofmann had the best day at the plate, recording a pair of hits while scoring the only Marian run. Knox and Madere had the other two Marian hits, while Madere drew two of five walks for the team. 

Marian will have to do the improbable for a second consecutive year if they aim to return to the NAIA World Series, as the Knights would have to win three elimination games on Thursday. Marian's first opponent in the route of staving off elimination will be either Aquinas or Rio Grande, as they will take the field at 11:30 a.m.

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