Viera, Fla. - The Marian softball team split their doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon as they continue their spring break games at the USSSA Space Coast Complex, taking down No. 19 St. Thomas in game one before getting shut out by Ave Maria in game two. Marian is 5-1 overall on the season. 

Game 1 | No. 10 Marian 5-2 No. 19 St. Thomas
Marian wasted no time pouncing on the Bobcats, as the Knights took advantage of a pair of first inning miscues. Both Brooke Knox and Abby Madere reached on errors to spark the bases, and after Abbey Hofmann reached on a fielder's choice, Lily Wendt delivered a timely two-out base hit to score a pair of runs. The 2-0 lead was protected by Olivia Stunkel and the Marian defense, as the Knights worked out of a double in both the first and second innings to hold their edge.

In the third inning the Knights tacked on two more runs, with Hofmann and Wendt trading places on back to back doubles. Hofmann's hit knocked in Grace Meyer, who scored from first after reaching base on an error. The two runs pushed the Knights in front 4-0, but their lead would be challenged in the home half of the fourth inning as St. Thomas was able to strike back. Stunkel was able to pick up two outs that surrounded a double and infield single, aiming to get out of the inning unscathed. A two-out walk would change that approach, as the Bobcats scored two on an base hit that went deep into the hole at shortstop. Stunkel was able to claw back and get out of the inning with a fly out to center, keeping Marian in front 4-2.

Stunkel faced adversity again in the bottom of the fifth inning as she looked to protect the lead, giving up a pair of hits to two of the first three batters in the inning. The Bobcats would get two runners in scoring position, but saw their threat end as Hayley Greene gunned down a runner at the plate to pick up the second out, while a strikeout closed the inning with the lead at hand.

The Knights looked for insurance in the sixth inning, getting it on a one-out single from Abby Madere. The hit scored Ally Malone, who earlier in the inning reached on a single. Leading 5-2, Marian's bullpen closed down the final six outs of the game, with the first three coming from Katie Lackman as she worked the sixth inning. Lackman allowed two singles before settling in, and in the seventh inning Lauren Mayer picked up a strikeout to record her first out, before entrusting her defense to pick up the final pair of batters to seal the 5-2 win.

Stunkel moved to 3-0 on the season with the win, allowing two earned runs and seven hits as she recorded three strikeouts. Wendt led Marian at the dish, going 2-4 with three RBI, ripping a double in the win. Hofmann recorded a double and RBI in her 1-4 outing, scoring once. Lauren Mayer recorded her second save of the season after working the seventh inning of the game. 

Game 2 | No. 10 Marian 0-4 Ave Maria
The Knights got off to a good start at the plate, opening their first half inning on offense with a pair of base hits from Anna Pritchett and Brooke Knox, however a double play quickly halted the momentum as Marian went scoreless. Macy Coan delivered a perfect first inning and shrugged off a hit batter in the second, piecing together a strong appearance in her third start of the season. Coan got out of trouble in the third inning as she stranded a pair of singles with an inning-ending strikeout, but in the fourth the sophomore ran into trouble.

Ave Maria opened the inning with a runner reaching on an error, but the Knights were able to get two outs quickly after at second base. The inning prolonged as Coan hit a batter, and then after a communication failure, Karysn Moore got a second life and delivered an RBI single. The Gyrenes followed with another base hit, taking a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning. Marian attempted to respond in the home half as Caroline Roop tried to ignite a rally with a two-out hit, but the Knights were unable to bring in a run in the frame.

The Gyrenes would extend their lead in the fifth and sixth innings, tacking on a run in both frames to carry a 4-0 lead. The Knights were unable to produce enough offense to tie, going three-up, three-down in each of the final three innings of the game, coming up empty in the 4-0 loss.

Abbey Hofmann and Lily Wendt each had a base hit in addition to the singles hit by Roop, Pritchett, and Knox, as the team had five total base knocks in the game. Coan (1-1) took the loss in the circle, giving up one earned run and three runs in the game, while surrendering six base hits. Alayna Tesnar finished the game pitching the final two innings, allowing one run and one hit in the outing.

Marian will be idle on Wednesday, before returning to action on Thursday. The Knights play Cleary and Florida National on Thursday evening. 

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