SIOUX CENTER, Iowa - Led by a dominating defense, the Marian softball team displayed their offensive firepower on Tuesday afternoon, scoring nine runs over the final three innings as the Knights run-ruled Northwestern College 9-0 in six innings. The win over the top seed in the Sioux Center Bracket of the NAIA Opening Round advances the Knights to the championship game with a 46-7 overall record.

The Knights reached base safely in five of six innings on Tuesday, picking up their first base runner of the day on Lily Wendt's first-inning single. Marian was unable to score in the frame, but turned solid defensive plays in the home half inning as Olivia Stunkel retired the Red Raiders in order. Ally Malone delivered a two-out single in the second inning, but like her teammate Wendt, the infielder was unable to score as Marian came up empty with their two-out offense. Northwestern threatened in the ensuing half inning as two runners reached base, but Stunkel was able to remain in control, forcing ground outs to Brooke Knox and Ally Malone to retire the side.

Marian's only inning without a base runner came in the third when they were retired in order, and in the bottom half, Stunkel continued to control the game, stranding a one-out walk as Malone made the final out of the frame for the third consecutive inning. The defense finally turned into offense, with Marian breaking the shutout in the top of the fourth inning. Lily Wendt started the frame with a double into the left field corner, and after being moved to third on a ground out from Grace Meyer, Jenna Minnix delivered an RBI single to put her team on the board. 

Northwestern immediately looked to challenge, but a pair of walks in the bottom of the fourth would both be left stranded in scoring position, as Stunkel forced the inning-ending out on a pop fly to her former high school teammate Malone.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Knights broke the game wide open, getting their first base runner in the form of an error off the bat of Brooke Knox. Abbey Hofmann followed with a double as the lineup card turned over, and with two outs, the Red Raiders pitched a competitive intentional walk to Lily Wendt to load the bases. Grace Meyer made the decision sting, taking her first pitch at bat for a ride, doubling to center field to drive in Knox and Hofmann. On the hit, Northwestern's centerfielder overran the ball, with the error seeing the carom roll directly to the center field fence. Wendt and Meyer took advantage of the gaffe, dashing to the plate with the catcher beating the relay throw to score four runs on the play. 

The big inning fueled Marian, as their defense again made plays in the home half with three infield outs stranding a walk and single allowed by Stunkel in the frame. Leading 5-0 after five complete, the Knights looked to end the game in the sixth, continuing to have their way at the plate as Ally Malone led the inning with a single. A ground out moved the freshman into scoring position, giving Knox the green light to knock in her fellow middle-infielder. The RBI single kept the offense rolling, as Lily Wendt later tagged a sacrifice fly to score Knox, while Anna Pritchett and Abbey Hofmann executed a double steal to score the eighth run. Meyer finished the scoring with an RBI double to left, giving Marian a commanding 9-0 lead.

The Red Raiders managed two hits in the bottom of the sixth as they looked to extend the game, but Stunkel stood strong as she closed her outing, forcing a fly out to Hofmann in left to end the game and seal Marian's 9-0 run-rule win. 

Stunkel (28-0) controlled the Northwestern bats throughout the game, allowing four hits in her complete-game shutout. The senior forced 13 groundouts, and saw just two balls reach the outfield in the air in the entire game. Meyer stole the show with her two-hit day, doubling twice to tie Marian's career doubles record with 66 in her career. Meyer finished the game 2-4, and logged three RBI. Hofmann went 2-4 and scored twice, while Wendt enjoyed a 2-2 game with a walk and a sacrifice fly. Knox scored twice in her 1-3 game, and Malone and Minnix each finished with a pair of base hits each. Malone shined defensively, making seven total outs, including the final out in each of the first five innings. 

Marian will play in the championship game on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. ET, with their opponent to be determined following the conclusion of game one on the day. 

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