Marian Survives Storm as Knights Complete 6-5 Comeback Over Rio Grande

INDIANAPOLIS - After falling into a 5-1 hole, the Marian softball team willed their way to a victory on Tuesday afternoon, as heroics from Macy Coan and Savannah Harweger helped Marian claim a 6-5 victory over Rio Grande in the NAIA Opening Round. The win for Marian is their 45th of the season, as they endured rainy conditions and a 3:28 rain delay in their win. 

Things got off to a poor start for Olivia Stunkel in the first inning of the game, as a lead-off walk and a two-out single from Peyton Young drove in the opening run for Rio Grande. The Red Storm would prolong the lengthy first inning, but Stunkel worked a strikeout to her sixth batter of the inning to limit the damage to one. 

In the home half, Marian retaliated with a run of their own, as Savannah Harweger recorded a bunt single off Madi Ogden to open the frame. Ogden would retire two outs, but after a stolen base by the shortstop, Marian was given a gift in the form of a dropped pop-up off Sierra Norman's bat, scoring Harweger from second to level the game.

Stunkel worked through a quick second inning as she retired all three outs herself, and in the home half Marian looked primed to add to their lead, but left Abbey Hofmann and Hayley Greene stranded in scoring position. Rio Grande reclaimed a one-run lead in the third inning, as a lead-off double from Caitlyn Brisker came around to score on an RBI single from Gabby Adams. Stunkel gave up three hits in the inning before retiring the side, and after seeing her team go three-up, three-down in the bottom of the third, returned to a 2-1 game in the fourth inning.

The fourth inning is where trouble began to brew, as a lead-off walk, bunt single, and hit batter to the bottom of the Red Storm lineup loaded the bases. Stunkel would give up three runs over the next two batters, as a pair of base hits made the game a 5-1 affair. Macy Coan entered in relief and was able to limit the damage, picking up two quick outs. In the home half, the offense worked to pickup their starting pitcher, as Hofmann reached on a one-out walk. The freshman stole second base as Caroline Roop struckout, putting her in position to score on Hayley Greene's RBI single. Anna Pritchett drew a walk to keep the inning going, and with two outs Savannah Harweger tripled to right field, bringing Marian within one run. 

The Knights would end the inning with two runners stranded on base, trailing 5-4. As the team's prepared to return for the fifth inning, mother nature intervened, as a lengthy rain delay started before the inning would begin. After pausing action at 11:19 a.m., the game would stand in a rain delay for over three hours, with play not resuming until 2:48 p.m., and in the return to play neither team would score in the fifth inning, as Rio went down in order while singles from Grace Meyer and Hofmann were stranded for Marian.

In the sixth inning, Coan faced four batters as she gave up her only hit of the game, but followed the knock with three consecutive outs. In the home half, Marian didn't wait long to ignite their offense, as Anna Pritchett drew a lead-off walk to set up Harweger. Like she did in the Crossroads League Tournament, the fifth-year senior hunted a first pitch fast ball, and blasted a go-ahead two-run home run to center field, pushing Marian in the lead for the first time with a 6-5 edge. The game would roll to the seventh inning with the same score, and the freshman Coan held her own, seeing one runner reach on an error as three fly outs ended the game with Marian advancing in the winner's bracket.

Coan moved to 11-4 overall on the year with 3.2 strong relief innings, allowing one hit as she willed Marian into a winning position. At the plate, Harweger ended the game a double short of the cycle, going 3-4 with a triple and a go-ahead two-run home run. The senior collected four RBI in the win. 

Abbey Hofmann finished the game with two hits and a stolen base, while Hayley Greene and Grace Meyer had the other hits for Marian. Stunkel ended her outing with 3.1 innings of work, allowing seven hits and five runs. The junior did record five punchouts in her no-decision.

Marian moves on to face the two-seed and 17th rated team in the NAIA in Southern Oregon. The game is currently scheduled for 11:00 a.m., but on-going weather conditions may alter the game. Fans are encouraged to keep up with the schedule on MUKnights.com, MUKnights on Twitter, and the NAIA Tournament Championships page on MUKnights.com.

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