Stunkel and Hofmann's Heorics Advance Marian Over Southern Oregon in 12-Inning Marathon

COLUMBUS, Ga. - In a game full of momentum swings and highlight plays, the Marian softball team survived a 12-inning marathon game against No. 3 Southern Oregon, winning 3-2 on Lily Wendt's sacrifice fly in the top of the 12th inning. Marian's ninth consecutive victory advances them in the winner's bracket of the NAIA World Series, as the Knights move to 48-7 on the season. 

The game was scoreless through four innings of play, as two of the best pitchers in the NAIA locked horns early. Ayla Davies of Southern Oregon worked a three-batter first inning, while Marian's Olivia Stunkel shrugged off a two-out walk in the opening frame with an inning-ending strikeout. The Knights looked to manufacture offense in the top of the second as Grace Meyer walked and reached second on a bunt, but two strikeouts from Davies would neutralize the threat. Southern Oregon delivered the game's first hit in the bottom of the second off Stunkel, but a pair of flyouts caught by Abbey Hofmann in left field quickly ended the inning. 

Both pitchers exchanged scoreless innings in the third, with the two sides being retired in order. Marian's offense finally broke through against Davies in the fourth inning, as Anna Pritchett notched the team's first base hit with a single, while Lily Wendt followed with a hit to left field. The Knights were primed to score, however the Raiders' freshman pitcher notched a pair of strikes to end the threat unharmed. Stunkel would respond with a three-up, three-down home side, moving the game to the fifth in a scoreless affair.

The scoreboard picked up its first dent in the fifth inning, with Mystic Means sparking the Marian offense with a bunt single to third. With two outs, the lineup card turned over to Abbey Hofmann, and the sophomore delivered in a big way, launching a two-run home run to left field, knocking home the first runs of the game with her eighth long ball of the season. Stunkel continued to excel in the circle, shaking off a two-out hit in the fifth, while stranding another Southern Oregon base knock in the sixth.

Marian looked to add to their lead in the sixth inning when Grace Meyer picked up her second lead-off walk of the game; however, her pinch-runner Mackenzie Matern was unable to get home, stopping short at third base by the time Davies forced the final out. The Knights were retired in order in the seventh, needing three outs in the bottom of the seventh to secure a win. Stunkel worked quickly to get the first two outs as she forced a pop-up behind the plate and caught a short fly ball to the circle, but the Raiders began to thrive with two outs. Kierstin Groteweil and Brooke Nordahl scratched out consecutive two-out hits, while Aubree Muxen drew a walk to put the winning run on base. Sarah Kerling spoiled Stunkel's shutout with an RBI single, while Kailer Fulton tied the game with a hit to center field. Stunkel stayed calm despite the winning run standing 60 feet away, getting a flyout to force extra innings.

The Knights had a chance in the top of the eighth inning to push in a go-ahead run, but singles from Pritchett and Minnix were stranded on base as Davies worked out of a jam. Hayley Greene turned a 5-3 double play in the bottom of the eighth inning, getting out of a threat as a walk and an error put two Raiders on base. Marian went without a base runner in the ninth, and in the 10th inning, Lily Wendt's two-out single was left stranded at first base. Southern Oregon would pick up base runners in both the ninth and 10th innings, but each time were denied a trip home, with Marian's defense stepping up to record timely outs. 

Southern Oregon's best chance in extra innings came in the 11th inning, as Faith Moultrie ripped a two-out single to left, and eventually reached third on a stolen base and throwing error. Marian's ace remained calm with the winning run in scoring position, forcing Sarah Kerling to ground out to Ally Malone at shortstop. Abbey Hofmann helped keep the Raiders off the board in the 11th inning from her position in left field, robbing Kierstin Groteweil of a home run with a leaping snag at the left field wall. 

With the game still knotted 2-2 entering the 12th inning, the Knights' bats came to life, charging a pair of hits to produce the go-ahead run. Brooke Knox began the inning with a single to left, while Abbey Hofmann followed with a base hit of her own. The pair gained a free 60 feet on a wild pitch, while Anna Pritchett put the pressure on, reaching on an infield error. Lily Wendt pushed across the go-ahead run as she stepped into the box, dropping a sacrifice fly into left field to give Marian a 3-2 lead after Knox slid across the plate. 

Leading for the first time since the bottom of the seventh, Olivia Stunkel owned the final half inning, getting a quick ground ball to Malone at short for the first out. Kennedy Kila was walked in the second plate appearance of the inning, but the senior brushed off the four-pitch pass, forcing consecutive flyouts to Pritchett in center to end the marathon game as 3-2 victors. 

Stunkel and Hofmann shined in the lengthy extra-inning game, with each player stepping up for the Knights throughout the game. Stunkel (30-0) continued her perfect season, tossing all 12 innings, allowing 10 hits and four walks while two runs scored in the bottom of the seventh. The senior tossed 153 pitches in the win, facing 50 batters. At the plate, Hofmann delivered the timely hits, going 2-6 with her two-run home run. Pritchett reached base four times and finished the game with a team-high three hits, and Wendt finished 2-5 with the go-ahead sacrifice fly. Minnix, Greene, Means, and Knox each had one hit in the win, with the latter three going 1-5 each.

Defensively, Hofmann, Pritchett, and Wendt combined to record over 75 percent of the team's defensive outs. Wendt made 10 putouts at first base, while Pritchett and Hofmann each collected nine outs in the outfield. 

The extra-inning battle is the second-longest game in program history and the third game to reach the 12th inning, with the most recent contest taking place in the NAIA Opening Round in 2021, when the Knights were defeated in the bottom of the 12th against Columbia College. 

Marian advances in the winner's bracket with their win, and will play on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Marian's opponent will be determined on Friday night, when No. 2 Georgia Gwinnett plays Eastern Oregon. 

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