INDIANAPOLIS - Ending their doubleheader with a bang, the Marian softball team landed two wins over Spring Arbor on Tuesday afternoon, taking the season series against the Cougars 3-1. Marian landed a comfortable 6-0 game one victory, before taking down the Cougars 8-7 in nine innings in game two. The Knights are 27-5 overall on the season, and hold first place in the Crossroads League standings with their 17-3 mark against the league.

GAME 1 | Marian 6-0 Spring Arbor
After five straight shutout innings for both sides Marian was able to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth with Abbey Hofmann leading things off with an RBI single into left field to score Brooke Knox. A few at bats later Lily Wendt grounded out into a double play to get Mystic Means out on the play as well but, Hofmann was able to run into home and score another run to take the 2-0 lead going into the sixth inning.

The Cougars attempted to get on the board in the top of the sixth with a single up the middle but the last two batters grounded out and then fouled out to go into the bottom of the sixth. Knox made contact once more with a single to center field to score Hayley Greene and increase the lead to three. Hofmann finished off the inning with a three-run home run into center field to score herself, Knox, and Ally Malone increasing the lead 6-0. Spring Arbor got off to a good start in the top of the seventh with the first two batters reaching base. Olivia Stunkel was able to get out of the tinning with two strikeouts and a fly out to centerfield to earn her 14th win of the season and thr 6-0 victory for the Knights.

Brooke Knox led the Knights in game one going 3-3 from the plate with two doubles and two runs scored as well as an RBI. Abbey Hofmann had a huge outing going 3-4 from the plate with two runs, four RBI's, a home run, and a pair of stolen bases. Lily Wendt went 2-3 from the plate while Anna Pritchett went 2-4 from the plate. Pritchett and Hayley Greene each tallied a stolen base as well. In the circle Olivia Stunkel pitched all seven innings only giving up three hits and two walks. Stunkel tied her season high of 11 strikeouts in the game.

GAME 2 | Marian 8-7 Spring Arbor | 9 Innings
Spring Arbor struck in the first inning with a double into left center to score a runner and take the 1-0 lead. Marian fired back in the bottom of the first with Grace Meyer reaching on a fielders choice to get Lily Wendt out at second but Hofmann as able to score on the play and tie up the game. In the next at bat Jenna Minnix singled into right field to score Anna Pritchett and take the 2-1 lead over the Cougars.

After a dry second inning on both sides the Cougars struck again in the third inning with a solo home run past left center. Spring Arbor followed up with a double a couple at bats later to score the runner and take the 3-2 lead In the bottom of the third inning Meyer singled up the middle to score Pritchett on the play and bring the game to a bottle neck once more. Wendt took advantage of a wild pitch in the next at bat and crossed the plate once more to take the one point lead. Ally Malone followed up with a ground out to third base to allow Hayley Greene and Meyer to score and take the 5-3 lead.

The Knights continued to strike in the bottom of the fourth with Wendt doubling into right center to score Hofmann and extend the lead to three. Meyer followed up with a single into left field to score Wendt and extend the lead 7-3. Spring Arbor gained their footing in the top of the fifth with a run scored on a fielder's choice and on a sacrifice fly to knock down Marian's lead to two. Spring Arbor continued to chop down and Marian's lead with a home run past left field in the 6th inning and a run scored on a wild pitch to tie up the game 7-7 and bring the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the ninth Greene singled up the middle to score Grace Meyer and secure the 8-7 win. 

Abbey Hofmann led the Knights in game two going 2-4 from the plate tabbing two runs and two stolen bases. Lily Wendt and Grace Meyer each went 3-5 from the plate each tabbing a pair of runs. Wendt recorded two doubles and one RBI while Meyer recorded three RBIs and a pair of stolen bases. Jenna Minnix and Hayley Green each tabbed a stolen base in the match up as well.

In the circle Macy Coan earned the start pitching four innings giving up six hits and five runs and three walks in her 23 batters faced. Katie Lackman came in and pitched two innings giving up two hits and runs in her eight batters faced. Olivia Stunkel entered the circle once more earning her 15th win only giving up one hit in her three innings pitched. Stunkel struck out three batters in her outing to close out the game.

Marian ends their week on the road, traveling to Mount Vernon Nazarene this Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. twin bill.

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