INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. --- The Bethel Pilots (9-35, 4-26) had a tall task with the No. 14 Marian Knights Thursday night at the MU Softball Field with an 8-0 and a 9-4 loss in the state capitol.
GAME 1
The Knights scored three out of the gate in the bottom of the first, starting with a double steal, with Anna Pritchett crossing home for the first run of the game. Lily Wendt hit a double to score Pritchett, then Hayley Greene plated Wendt from a single to make it a 3-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Knights put up a four-run inning, with Mystic Means singled to third base, and an error scored the fourth Knight run. Brooke Knox grounded out to short and plated Means, then Abbey Hofman grounded out to short and scored the sixth run, and Grace Meyer doubled to right center to end the top of the fourth up 7-0.
Hofman hit an RBI single to right to plate the eighth and final run in the bottom of the fifth and ended the game in five innings.
Natalee McNeil (2-10) was given the loss after three innings of work and allowed eight hits, six runs (five earned), walked one batter and struck out one.
GAME 2
After being no-hit in the first game, Kate Cooper reached base on a fielder's choice that put out Madi Shaw at second but scored on an error by the second baseman to put the Pilots on the board, then Jordan Markley tripled down the left field line to plate Cooper to start the game up 2-0 after the first inning.
Jenna Minnix singled to third in the bottom of the first to climb back, then tied the game in the bottom of the second, 2-2, off an error by the third baseman, hit by Knox, and scored Malone. Hofman singled up the middle to score two runs and took the lead 4-2. Hofman would later score on a wild pitch and take the game to 5-2.
Shaw answered the big inning with a solo home run to left center in the top of the third to get within two runs, then in the bottom of the third, Hofman singled to left and made it a 6-3 ballgame. Natalee McNeil grounded out to short in the top of the fourth to make it 6-4, but Marian homered in the bottom of the fourth, then separated further from a Wendt hit a sacrifice fly to left, and won the nightcap 9-4.
Harmony Looney (2-7) suffered the loss after throwing 2.2 innings and allowing seven hits, six runs (four earned), walked four, and struck out two.
The Pilots face the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats at Sue Bowman Field on Tuesday, April 22, for a 3 p.m. doubleheader in Marion, Ind.
For more information about Bethel Athletics and updates on all 28 sports, check out bupilots.com or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube by searching @bupilots or the hashtag #RightWaytoPlay.
