COLUMBUS, Ga. – [Watch On-Demand] Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) used timely power hitting and dominant relief pitching to pull away from Marian (Ind.), earning a 10-2 victory Friday morning at South Commons, escaping elimination from the 2026 NAIA Softball World Series.
Marian (38-18) grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning, manufacturing runs without an extra-base hit. Lily Wendt scored when a pitch with the bases loaded hit Ella Piercy, and Abbey Hofmann followed with an RBI single. The Knights (44-12) threatened for more, but a key defensive play by the Saints cut down Mystic Means at the plate to limit the damage.
Our Lady of the Lake responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Novalee Gloria drove in the Saints’ first run on a groundout before Yezenia Perez tied the game with an RBI single to center.
The Saints took control in the third inning behind one swing from Marisa Rosales. After Tania Rodriguez and Lilly Rocha reached base, Rosales launched a three-run home run to center field to give Our Lady of the Lake a 5-2 advantage. That momentum carried through the middle innings as the Saints held Marian scoreless the rest of the way.
Our Lady of the Lake created separation in the fifth inning with another big hit from Gloria. Rosales, Rodriguez, and Caitlin Casas all scored on Gloria’s three-run double to left-center, extending the lead to 8-2. The Saints added two more runs in the sixth inning on RBI singles from Rocha and Rosales. Both runs were unearned following Marian’s lone error of the game.
Saints starter Valeria Vielma allowed two runs over 2 1/3 innings before turning the game over to Annika Litterio, who dominated in relief. Litterio tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out two to earn the win.
Marian starter Macy Coan (21-6) took the loss after surrendering five runs in three innings, including Rosales’ decisive home run. Alayna Tesnar and Lexi Smith combined to finish the game in relief. Rosales finished 3-for-3 with a double, a three-run home run, four RBI, and three runs scored. Gloria drove in four runs, highlighted by her three-run double. Perez added two hits and an RBI, while Rocha went 3-for-4 with an RBI. For the Knights, Hofmann recorded an RBI single, while Piercy drove in a run via a hit-by-pitch. Marian finished with five hits.
