COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Marian softball team saw their nine-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday night, falling to Eastern Oregon in their second game of the NAIA World Series by an 8-0 score in five innings. Marian's loss drops them to the elimination bracket of the 2025 NAIA World Series with a 48-8 overall record.

Eastern Oregon tagged the first base runner of the game in the first inning with a one-out single, but Marian's senior pitcher Olivia Stunkel neutralized the hit as she ended the inning with a looking strikeout. The Knights were unable to manufacture a base runner in the bottom of the first inning, and in the second, Stunkel fell victim to the touted Mountie offense. 

The Mountaineers picked up a one-out single and walk, and with two outs drew a bases-loaded threat as Stunkel walked her second batter of the inning. Raygun Klippert cleared the bases after the two-out walk, tripling into the left field gap to put Eastern Oregon on top 3-0. An RBI double followed the three-bag hit, making it a 4-0 game in favor of the Mountaineers.

Stunkel ended the second with a strikeout, and in the third recovered with a quick three-up, three-down frame, however Marian's offense was unable to get in gear, as Kylie Parsons negated any comeback attempt. Marian went down in order against Parsons in the second, and Brooke Knox's third-inning single was not enough to propel the offense, ending the frame with a runner stranded on base.

A strikeout helped Stunkel through a four-batter fourth inning, keeping the game within reach at a 4-0 margin. Marian was unable to produce a base runner for the third time in the bottom of the fourth, and in the top of the fifth, Eastern Oregon put the score out of reach, driving home four runs to take an 8-0 lead. Stunkel recorded one out in the inning, allowing three hits before being replaced by Macy Coan. Coan recorded a fly out with an inherited runner on third, but with two outs the sophomore yielded a home run, putting the score at 8-0. Jenna Minnix would single in the bottom of the fifth inning, however, the Knights failed to extend the game with a run, ending the night on the losing end of a 5-0 contest.

The loss for Stunkel (30-1) ended her undefeated season, as the senior was charged with eight hits and seven runs, striking out four in the game. Coan recorded two outs in relief, allowing a home run before ending the top of the fifth. Knox and Minnix had Marian's lone hits in the loss, as the team went a collective 2-17 in the defeat.

Marian will play for their season on Monday afternoon, playing a rematch against Southern Oregon in the elimination bracket. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

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