The Marion Giants will face off against the Blackford Bruins at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. The teams are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Marion has struggled recently with seven defeats in a row, while Blackford will arrive with three straight victories.
On Saturday, Marion didn't have quite enough to beat Lafayette Jefferson and fell 4-3.
Aly Earnest
| 05/16/26 vs Lafayette Jefferson | 5 |
| 05/11/26 @ Caston | 9 |
| 04/30/26 vs Northfield | 7 |
| 04/28/26 @ Cowan | 11 |
| 04/25/26 vs Muncie Central | 13 |
| 04/21/26 vs Peru | 7 |
Aly Earnest spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and three unearned) runs on five hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in six consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Jasmine Weaver was cooking despite her team's loss, going 3-for-4 with one home run, two RBI, and one double. Another player making a difference was Zi'Onna Cole, who went 2-for-3 with one run and one double.
Meanwhile, Blackford posted their closest win since April 28, 2025 on Tuesday. They had just enough and edged out Monroe Central 4-3.
Blackford also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Braelynn Wilson gave up only one earned (and two unearned) runs on eight hits.
On the hitting side, Kinze Clamme was excellent, going 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and two runs.
Marion's loss was their first in the conference, dropping their conference record down to 4-1 and their overall record down to 6-10. As for Blackford, their victory bumped their record up to 5-11.
Blackford's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Marion has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .474. It's a different story for Blackford, though, as they've only averaged .304. Will they be able to contain Marion's hitters?
Marion might still be hurting after the 12-2 defeat they got from Blackford when the teams last played back in May of 2025. Will the Giants have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
