INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian softball team had a high-powered game one on Friday afternoon in a convincing victory over No. 12 Indiana Wesleyan, however the Knights fell similarly in game two, as the Wildcats won 11-2 in the second matchup. Marian remains in second place in the Crossroads League standings after the split, as they carry a 35-7 overall record and 25-5 record in the CL.

GAME 1 | No. 14 Marian 14-3 No. 12 Indiana Wesleyan | 5 INNINGS
Olivia Stunkel worked through trouble in the first and second innings on Friday, as Indiana Wesleyan picked up a base hit in both frames while seeing their runner move into scoring position, but the senior stood strong, getting three strikeouts as she kept the Wildcats off the board. In the bottom of the second inning, Jenna Minnix sparked Marian's offense with a lead-off single, while the senior was followed by a hit from Hayley Greene. Mystic Means picked up a single to load the bases, and Brooke Knox followed with an RBI walk to score the game's first run. Abbey Hofmann recorded a sacrifice fly to score the second run, and an error from the Wildcats on Anna Pritchett's bunt brought in two more to make the game a 4-0 contest.

Stunkel pitched her first perfect inning in the top of the third, and in the bottom of the half inning Ally Malone delivered an RBI base hit after Grace Meyer and Greene singled. Marian loaded the bases, and saw Abbey Hofmann deliver a crushing double to the left field wall, as the sophomore cleared the bags to make it an 8-0 game. The senior Stunkel again pitched a scoreless half inning in the top of the fourth, and in the home half, the Knights threw the knockout punch. 

Grace Meyer tripled to open the inning, and scored one batter later on Jenna Minnix's RBI double. Malone recorded an RBI base hit to score Minnix, and Means picked up an RBI as she reached on a bunt. Hofmann produced another RBI to give Marian a 12-0 lead, and as the inning advanced, Brooke Knox scored on a wild pitch and Lily Wendt recorded a sacrifice fly, making it a 14-0 lead for the Knights.

In the top of the fifth, Indiana Wesleyan would produce three runs as Katie Lackman allowed a walk and two doubles without recording an out. Olivia Stunkel came back on to pitch with a runner standing at second base, and allowed two singles before getting a fly out to center field, ending the game with two more strikeouts in the 14-3 run-rule victory.

Stunkel (20-0) earned her second win of the season over Indiana Wesleyan, throwing five complete innings with four hits allowed against six strikeouts. At the plate, six different Knights had two base hits, with Hofmann pushing in five RBI in her 2-3 outing. Mystic Means scored a team-best three runs in the win.

GAME 2 | No. 14 Marian 2-11 No. 12 Indiana Wesleyan | 5 INNINGS
Marian aimed for the sweep in game two as Macy Coan got the starting nod, however the sophomore pitcher struggled early in the first inning, allowing three hits to the top of the Wildcats' order that scored three runs. The Knights were unable to get in the scoring column in the bottom half inning as Abbey Hofmann's lead-off single was left on base, and in the top of the second inning the Wildcats threw their haymaker, scoring four runs off Coan on a grand slam from Abby Harvey. Coan exited after the home run that made the game 7-0, with her reliever Alayna Tesnar getting out of the frame after walking two batters.

The Knights got two hits in the bottom of the second but were unable to score, and in the top of the third inning the Wildcats extended their lead, driving in two runs on Abby Harvey's double. Trailing 9-0, Marian finally broke their drought in the home half of the third as Grace Meyer hammered a two-run home run, scoring two runs to get within seven. A groundout spoiled Marian's rally cry, and in the top of the fourth, the Wildcats pushed their lead to eight, as Tesnar surrendered an RBI single. 

Indiana Wesleyan retired the Knights in order in the home half of the fourth inning, and extended their lead back to nine in the next half inning as the freshman reliever gave up another RBI hit to Harvey. Down 11-2 entering the bottom of the fifth, Marian was unable to produce anything more than a single, as the Wildcats avenged the run-rule loss with a run-rule victory of their own. 

Six different players had a hit in the loss, with Meyer's home run standing as the only extra base hit in the inning. Coan (11-5) took the loss, allowing seven hits and runs in 1.1 innings. Tesnar threw 3.2 innings in relief, allowing five hits and four runs to score. 

Marian will begin their final week of the regular season at home, hosting Taylor University at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22. 

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