Upland, Ind. - The Marian softball team advanced to the winner's bracket finale of the Crossroads League Championship on Wednesday afternoon, as the Knights survived a scare from Mount Vernon Nazarene in their 7-5 win. The victory gives Marian a 42-7 overall record on the season.

Marian wasted little time pouncing on the Cougars, bringing home four runs in the bottom of the first after their ace Olivia Stunkel pitched a quick three-up, three-down first inning. Lily Wendt started the scoring as she drove home Abbey Hofmann with an RBI groundout, and with two outs, the Knights kept the inning alive as Grace Meyer reached on a single. Jenna Minnix followed with a base hit, setting up Hayley Greene, as the fellow senior hammered a three-run home run to left field to give the Knights an early 4-0 lead.

Stunkel shutout the Cougars again in the second inning, and gained two more runs of support as Wendt recorded her second RBI groundout of the game, scoring Brooke Knox, while Abbey Hofmann would race home on a wild pitch. Marian led 6-0 after two complete innings, and held the lead at six runs after the third inning as Stunkel shrugged off a two-out walk in a scoreless frame. 

The shutout would snap in the fourth inning, as Mount Vernon started a rally as Stunkel walked the lead-off batter before giving up three consecutive base hits, with the third coming in the form of a two-run double. The Cougars would push in two more following the two RBI hit, ending the inning with four runs to make it a two-score game. The Knights were unable to respond in the home half inning, and in the top of the fifth saw two sacrifice hits bring in Mount Vernon's fifth run of the game.

Marian stopped the scoring run in the bottom of the fifth inning, getting a pair of hits from Grace Meyer and Emily Phillips to set up a sacrifice fly from Ally Malone. Malone's RBI made the game a 7-5 score, giving the Knights a two-run cushion for the final two innings. Macy Coan came out of the bullpen for the first time this season to protect the lead, taking over in the sixth with a scoreless inning. Coan walked her first batter in the sixth before getting three consecutive infield outs, and in the seventh inning, the sophomore retired the side in order, fielding her position to record the final out of the game. 

The Knights recorded 10 base hits in the victory, and were led at the plate by Abbey Hofmann's 4-4 outing. Hayley Greene had three RBI as she went 2-2 with a walk and a home run, and Lily Wendt recorded two RBI in the win. Stunkel (24-0) worked through her middle-inning struggles and earned the win in the circle, allowing five runs and seven hits while striking out four batters in five complete innings. Coan (1) earned her first career save, allowing one base runner in two innings of relief.

Marian will play their fifth game of the season against No. 12 Indiana Wesleyan on Thursday afternoon, as the league's co-champions matchup in the winner's bracket finale. First pitch between the top-15 teams is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

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