No. 5 Marian Sweeps No. 23 Saint Xavier in Season-Opening Doubleheader

INDIANAPOLIS - After three different postponements to their season opener, the Marian softball team finally got its 2026 season underway on Friday afternoon, as the Knights swept No. 23 Saint Xavier in their first home games of the campaign. Marian won game one 11-8 and game two 5-3, beginning the season 2-0.

GAME 1 | Marian 11-8 Saint Xavier
Scoring came in bunches in Marian's first game of the season, with a total of nine runs crossing the plate in the second inning after the first went by scoreless. Macy Coan worked strongly through a four-batter first inning, but in the second, the junior was unable to get to through a scoreless frame, as three hits and two defensive errors allowed Saint Xavier to take a quick four-run lead. The Cougars were in position to add to their lead on an RBI single, but a strong throw from Abby Madere peeled a runner at the plate, ending the scoring at four.

Marian immediately got the runs back, earning all five of their runs in the bottom of the second, with the scoring onslaught beginning with an Alex Kiemeyer walk. Ally Malone quickly plated her teammate with an RBI triple, while two batters after Malone, Karly Anderson slammed an RBI double. A pair of base hits followed the double, with Mystic Means picking up an RBI single, and later in the inning, Lily Wendt slugged an RBI base hit of her own. Marian finished their big inning by scoring on a wild pitch, as Mystic Means was able to cross the plate on an errant throw.

Coan quickly dialed in after seeing her team take the lead, pitching a four-batter third and a three-up, three-down fourth inning. The junior saw her team lead grow after her strong fourth inning, as the Knights brought home four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Abbey Hofmann doubled in Karly Anderson in the frame, and two batters later, Abby Madere picked up her first base hit of the season with an RBI double. Mallorie Beutel would follow with an RBI single, as the freshman drove in her first run to give the Knights an 8-4 lead. Kiemeyer finished Marian's big inning with an RBI single, giving the Knights a 9-4 advantage. 

Saint Xavier would threaten in the top of the fifth inning as the Cougars had multiple batters reach base, but Coan was able to pitch out of a jam with the help of her defense, stranding the bases to protect the 9-4 lead. The Cougars would get on the board again in the sixth inning as Marian went to the bullpen, with Kaite Lackman allowing a three-run home run with two outs, letting the game inch within two runs. Marian would quickly get the scores back in the bottom of the sixth as Karly Anderson provided insurance with a two-out, two-RBI double, giving the Knights a four-run lead once again. 

Anderson's double proved key for the Knights as they locked down the win, as the two runs allowed the Knights to absorb a Cougar score in the top of the seventh. Katie Lackman stood tall after giving up her seventh-inning run, standing the bases loaded as a fly out sealed the 11-8 victory.

Coan (1-0) pitched five strong innings, allowing six hits and four runs, one of which was earned. The junior faced 25 batters in her first outing of the season, striking out one batter. At the plate, Karly Anderson led the team with a 3-4 outing, doubling twice in the game with three RBI and two runs scored. Ally Malone had a double and triple in the win, as she was one of four Knights who had two base hits in the game. Marian totaled 14 hits in the win and drew six walks at the plate.

GAME 2 | Marian 5-3 Saint Xavier
In game two, Alayna Tesnar made her first collegiate start, and got off to a rocky start as she made her season debut, seeing a pair of infield hits and a walk load the bases. The sophomore would get two strikeouts to help reach the end of the frame, but left a pitch over the plate for Haley Matlock, who drove in two on a double to left. Saint Xavier was poised to score more, but got greedy trying to score a third run on the double, ending the inning at the plate as Ally Malone threw out Natalie Johnson at home. 

Marian didn't wait long to get the runs back for its pitcher, as Abbey Hofmann slammed a lead-off double to kick-start the offense. Mystic Means and Mallorie Beutel would walk to load the bases, and with a scoring chance present, Alex Kiemeyer wore a pitch, taking a ball off her elbow guard to bring home a run. A passed ball then allowed Means to score from third, tying the game 2-2. 

The deadlock allowed Tesnar to settle into the game, as she quickly pitched a three-up, three-down frame in the second, and gained a run of support in the bottom of the inning, as Delaney Rundle scored on a wild pitch after reaching base on a dropped third strike. The 3-2 lead would not last long, as the Cougars played small ball in the top of the third, manufacturing a run to level the game 3-3. Marian attempted to retake the lead in the bottom of the third, but came up empty, leaving the bases loaded as the game remained tied, moving to the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, Marian put up the final runs of the game, as Mystic Means reached on a bunt single to set up Abby Madere. The senior wasted no time driving home the go-ahead runs, hitting her first home run in nearly one year, launching a pitch to center field to vault Marian in front 5-3. 

The runs would be the final two of the game, as Lexi Smith relieved in the fifth Tesnar after the sophomore's scoreless fourth. Making her collegiate debut, Smith had to work in her first inning as she stranded a pair of two-out hits, while in the sixth, the freshman faced the minimum, as her fellow battery-mate Mati Hughes threw out a runner stealing to get the Knights out of the sixth. Smith would face adversity in the seventh inning as she allowed a lead-off double, but the first-year Knight remained calm, getting three straight infield outs to end the game and close Marian's 5-3 victory.

Tesnar (1-0) picked up the win in the circle, allowing three runs and five hits in 4.0 innings of work. The sophomore struck out two batters in her first collegiate start. Lexi Smith (1) picked up the save, throwing three scoreless innings to end the game, as she stranded four hits over the final three frames of the day. At the plate, Mystic Means had a strong game going 2-3, while Abby Madere had the big hit of the game with her two-run home run in the fourth inning. Madere finished the game 1-3 at the plate. 

Marian heads south to Florida, where the team will play nine regular season games and one exhibition in their annual spring break trip. The team's first two games in Florida will be on Monday, March 2, with the team taking on Michigan-Dearborn and Judson. 

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