No. 8 Marian Claims Crossroads League Tournament Championship For Second Consecutive Year

Crossroads League Championships Central

Spring Arbor, Mich. - Entering the final day of the Crossroads League Tournament, the Marian softball team needed two games to secure their second consecutive CL Championship, winning the if-necessary title game 1-0 over No. 16 Indiana Wesleyan to claim their hardware. Marian is 44-10 overall after their pair of championship games, entering the NAIA Championship as the owners of both Crossroads League titles.

Game 1 | Marian 5-9 Indiana Wesleyan
Marian wasted little time jumping on the Wildcats in the first championship game, scoring in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single from Abby Madere. The Wildcats would respond in the top of the second inning, coming back at Macy Coan with three unearned runs, as an error on a bunt play allowed three Wildcats to score. Coan shut down the inning, and re-entered in the third inning in a tie game, as Brooke Knox drove in Anna Pritchett and Savannah Harweger with a two-out single. Madere and Sierra Norman would follow with singles, but Knox was gunned down at the plate on Norman's base hit, ending the inning in a 3-3 tie.

In the third inning Marian looked primed to take a lead once more as Grace Meyer and Caroline Roop were hit by wild pitches while Hayley Greene singled to help load the bases. Brenna Fink would come in to pinch hit and try and push the Knights in front, but a ground ball was unable leave the infield as Meyer was thrown out at the dish, and a fly out would close the effort with the bases loaded.

Indiana Wesleyan capitalized on the missed opportunity with a run in the top of the fourth as two singles and a pair of fielder's choice plays allowed the go-ahead run to score. After obtaining the 4-3 lead, the Wildcats gripped tightly to their lead, scoring one run in the fifth inning and four in the top of the sixth, pushing the lead to six runs at a 9-3 margin.

In the bottom of the seventh Marian started a late rally, with Grace Meyer and Jenna Minnix drawing walks to start the inning, eventually coming in to score on an RBI groundout from Raegan Hiatt and wild pitch, respectively. Anna Pritchett and Savannah Harweger would reach base before the game reached its conclusion, but with two outs against Marian was unable to stay alive at the dish, falling 9-5.

Marian ended the game with nine hits, getting a pair of base hits from Harweger, Knox, and Madere. Knox had two of the four RBI, and Pritchett reached base safely three times, all on walks. Coan took the loss in the circle, pitching 5.2 innings. The freshman gave up nine runs, four of which were earned. Katie Lackman recorded the final four outs in the circle, giving up two hits in relief duty.

Game 2 | Marian 1-0 Indiana Wesleyan
The second act between Marian and Indiana Wesleyan in the if-necessary game belonged to the pitchers, as Olivia Stunkel went toe-to-toe with Alyssa Wagner. Stunkel breezed through the first inning as she recorded a strikeout in a perfect start, while Wagner struggled as Savannah Harweger roped a single and Sierra Norman drew a walk, however the Knights failed to bring in a run keeping a pair of zeros on the scoreboard.

Stunkel gave up her first runner in the second inning with a lead-off single, but worked out of harm with a pair of pop-ups to first base and a fly out to right. Marian looked to  capitalize in the bottom of the second as Abbey Hofmann singled to lead off the inning while reaching second on an error, but in an attempt to trade places on Lily Wendt's double, the left fielder was thrown out at the plate. Marian would fail to score in the inning, but after another hit was scattered by Stunkel in the third, the Knights broke the deadlock with Harweger starting a rally. The senior singled and took second on a stolen base, setting up Sierra Norman with two outs, as the first baseman roped a hit into the outfield for the game's first and only run. 

The RBI single gave Marian a 1-0 lead, which would be more than enough for Stunkel, who carved up the Wildcat lineup over the final four innings. A double would be left on an island in the fourth as the Marian ace recorded an inning-ending strikeout, while in the fifth inning Stunkel was perfect with a pair of groundouts aiding her cause. Indiana Wesleyan recorded their final hit of the game in the top of the sixth with a one-out single, but a pair of ground balls never left the infield, as the Knights recorded two quick outs to end the frame.

In the seventh Marian aimed to wrap up their championship, getting a quick fly out to center for the first retirement of the frame. Stunkel would get tested as she allowed a walk and single to put two runners on, but the Wildcats would fail to get past second base, as Chloe Tragesser lined out into a double play, with Hayley Greene making the catch and firing the ball back to first base to complete the game and give Marian the 1-0 championship win.

Stunkel came out on top in the pitcher's duel, firing a complete-game shutout while allowing just five hits. The junior pitcher fired 64 pitches in the win, and struck out two batters. At the plate, Norman reached twice with a walk and single, recording the game's only RBI with her third inning single. Harweger collected two hits in the win, and three other Knights had one hit. Wendt and Grace Meyer doubled in the win. 

Marian will now await their draw for the NAIA Opening Round, as the Knights will host the first stage of the national tournament for the second consecutive year. The NAIA selection show is Tuesday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. on their YouTube channel.

MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos and more.