COLUMBUS, Ga. - [Watch On-Demand] Indiana Wesleyan (41-13) walked off with a 4-3 victory over Marian (Ind.) on Thursday morning, using a late eighth-inning rally to open play at the 2026 NAIA Softball World Series at South Commons Complex.

Marian (36-17) struck first in the top of the first inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues. The Knights plated two unearned runs — one on an error by the Wildcats pitcher and another on a throwing error charged to the catcher to take a 2-0 lead despite recording just one hit in the inning.

IWU answered immediately in the bottom half. Courtney Thomas reached base and later scored when Morgan Yeater ripped an RBI triple to left-center field. Yeater then crossed the plate on Maddie Martin’s sacrifice fly, tying the game at 2-2 after one inning.

The Knights moved back in front in the third when Abbey Hofmann scored on Mati Hughes’ RBI single to right field, giving Marian a 3-2 advantage. Hughes finished 1-for-2 with an RBI, a walk, and a sacrifice bunt, while Lily Wendt led the Knights offensively with a 2-for-4 performance and a stolen base.

Indiana Wesleyan evened the score in the fourth. With runners on base, Yeater delivered again with an RBI single through the left side to tie the game at 3-3. Yeater paced the Wildcats offensively, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including a triple.

After both teams traded scoreless innings, Indiana Wesleyan finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth. Whitney Waddell, who finished 2-for-4 with a double, came around to score when Sara Ruble lined a walk-off RBI single up the middle to secure the 4-3 win.

Ruble turned in a strong offensive performance, going 3-for-4 with the game-winning RBI.

Macy Coan took the loss for Marian after allowing four runs on 10 hits over 7 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking three.

Toole worked 5 2/3 innings for Indiana Wesleyan and allowed three runs, only one of which was earned, while striking out two and walking three. Isabelle Beidelschies earned the win with 2 1/3 hitless innings of relief.

By the numbers

• Indiana Wesleyan out-hit Marian, 10-5, despite committing three errors that contributed directly to the Knights’ early unearned runs.
• Marian stranded nine runners on base, including five left aboard by Mallorie Beutel.
• Key offensive contributors for the Wildcats included Yeater (two RBIs), Ruble (three hits, game-winning RBI), and Waddell (two hits, run scored).

The Wildcats stay on the top side of the bracket to face the top-seeded Crusaders of Madonna (Mich.) tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET. Marian (Ind.) will take on the loser of game two between Mobile (Ala.) and Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) at 10 a.m. ET.