Marian University Ind.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Backed by another dazzling pitching effort from Macy Coan and a timely offense that provided three runs for the junior righty, the Marian softball team logged another shutout during the NAIA Opening Round, as they blanked Georgia Gwinnett 3-0 Tuesday afternoon. The Knights are advancing into the NAIA Opening Round Championship Game with a 37-16 overall season record.

Both the Knights and Grizzlies managed a base runner in the opening frame Tuesday afternoon, but neither side produced a run, as Delaney Rundle's walk was extinguished by Tatum Helsom, while Macy Coan stranded a lead-off single at third base with an inning-ending strikeout of Sara Roussel.

The big strikeout fueled the bats for Marian in the next two innings, as the Knights began the second inning with a double from Lily Wendt. The rip from Wendt came around to score after a sacrifice bunt as Ally Malone doubled in the first run of the game. After Coan faced the minimum in the home half of the second, the bats sparked again in the third, as a single from Abbey Hofmann jolted the dugout. Mati Hughes reached behind Hofmann, and with two outs, Lily Wendt delivered a clutch two-run double, driving the Knights on top 3-0. 

The three runs would be all the support Coan needed, as she continued her dominant week in the circle, stranding a double at third base in the bottom of the third to extend the shutout run. Georgia Gwinnett threatened the Knights in the fourth inning as they managed two singles against Coan, but after a sacrifice bunt, the junior forced two groundouts to the left side, getting out of the jam with the lead solidified at 3-0.

Marian's ace pitcher allowed her final hit of the game in the fifth inning, as a one-out single from the Grizzlies failed to get past Coan. The junior carried the shutout through the sixth inning as she recorded an inning-ending strikeout.

Carrying the 3-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh, Georgia Gwinnett began the half inning with a spell of drama, as Enna Lackey reached first on a dropped third strike, taking first after the call on the field of out was overturned by the umpires. Facing adversity with the first lead off reaching since the fourth inning, Lily Wendt calmed the nerves as she snared a line drive out of the air, reaching back to tag the second out as an unassisted double play moved Marian one out away from a championship berth. Coan would finish off the game three strikes later, forcing a fly out to Abby Madere in right field, ending the game with Marian coming out on top 3-0.

Coan's win extended her dominant streak during the NAIA Opening Round, extending her scoreless streak to 18.1 innings as she logged her second complete game shutout. Improving to 20-4 overall on the season, the junior yielded six hits and struck out three batters, going seven innings without issuing a walk. 

At the plate, Lily Wendt shone for the Knights, going 2-3 with two doubles and two RBI in the win. Ally Malone also went 2-3 in the game, with her second inning RBI double giving Marian its first run of the game. 

Marian will look to advance to the NAIA World Series on Wednesday afternoon, as they take on either William Carey, Georgia Gwinnett, or Coastal Georgia in the Opening Round Championship game at 4:00 p.m. Eastern. 

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