Spring Arbor, Mich. – Backed by an eight-run second inning and four commanding innings from the pitching staff, the Marian softball team run-ruled No. 16 Indiana Wesleyan to advance to the Crossroads League Championship game. Marian’s win is their 43rd of the season, as they reach the CL Championship with a 43-9 overall mark.
Olivia Stunkel got Marian off to a strong start defensively as the ace on the staff tossed a perfect frame to start the game, but in the second inning got roughed up as the junior pitched a lead-off walk. Indiana Wesleyan would fire in a pair of singles as Stunkel was able to record two outs, with the knock from Chloe Tragesser delivering the first two runs of the game. Stunkel would allow another base hit before getting a ground out to get out of the jam, ending the top of the second trailing by two.
Offensively, Marian was stymied by Alyssa Wagner in their first trip to the plate, but in the second got the bats rolling as Sierra Norman led the second inning with a single. Grace Meyer followed with a single, and the hits continued to roll as Abbey Hofmann and Lily Wendt recorded back-to-back doubles, knotting the score at 2-2. The bases loaded one batter later as Hayley Greene walked, setting up Savannah Harweger, as the senior turned on the first pitch of her second at bat, cranking a grand slam to right field to break the game open. Harweger’s grand slam put Marian on top 6-2, and before the inning ended Norman and Meyer each recorded another base hit, helping score two more runs.
In total, Marian put up eight runs on seven hits in the second inning, and with the help of a walk and two Indiana Wesleyan errors, the Knights were able to carry an 8-2 lead after two complete.
The lead would be all Stunkel needed, as the Marian ace cruised over her final two innings, retiring the side in order in the third while in the fourth stranding a one-out double on second base. In the bottom of the fourth inning the Knights capped the scoring, as three Indiana Wesleyan errors plagued the Wildcats, helping the home team to score two runs with just one hit.
The error-infused inning for Indiana Wesleyan gave Marian a 10-2 lead, and in the fifth inning Macy Coan came on in relief, giving up a lead-off single before retiring three consecutive batters on fly ball outs, sealing the run-rule win.
Of Marian’s 10 hits, four players recorded two each, with Harweger pacing the team going 2-3 with four RBI and two runs scored. Harweger’s second-inning grand slam was her third home run of the season. Meyer went 2-3 with 2 RBI, and Norman and Wendt each recorded two hits. Stunkel moved to 25-2 on the year in the circle with the four-innings of work, giving up four hits and two runs, one of which was earned. Coan recorded a four-batter fifth inning, allowing one hit.
Marian will play for the Crossroads League Championship on Friday, with a current scheduled time of 1:00 p.m. Marian’s opponent will be either Indiana Wesleyan, Taylor, or Spring Arbor. With weather conditions threatening on Friday, the game time could be altered, and fans will be encouraged to stick to MUKnights on X, formerly Twitter, for any schedule updates.