Marion Athletics -

The Marion softball team ended their 2026 spring break in a major way on Saturday afternoon at AR Construction Stadium.

The Patriots scored five runs in the first two innings of a 7-3 conquest of Southside in the first game of the day at home, and Marion was razor sharp in the finale, scoring 12 times in the bottom of the first to coast to a 14-0 win in three innings over Buffalo Island Central.

Marion (4-4 overall, 0-2 5A East) hosts Valley View on Tuesday afternoon for a 5A East doubleheader, which begins at 4:30 p.m.
The Pats got a lift from freshman Hailey Bateman against Southside, as she went 3-3 at the plate with a run scored, while junior leftfielder Kolbie Triplett cracked a pair of hits in her four at-bats, finishing with two RBI and two runs scored. Junior Kayson “Kbelle” McClain went 1-3 with three RBI, and Presley Kuhn and Kendall Eppes each drove in runs and scored. Kaitlyn Austin walked and scored, while Sophie Moore also added a run.

Sophomore Kynlee Shaull spun an effective seven innings against Southside, surrendering just two hits and allowing three runs, to go with five strikeouts.

The Marion machine muscled out 12 hits against B.I.C., including three from Triplett (3-3 with three runs), two apiece from Kuhn (2-3 with two runs, and an RBI), McClain (2-3 with two RBI and a run), Eppes (2-2 with five RBI and two runs), and Bateman (2-2 with two RBI and a run). Bateman, Eppes, McClain, Triplett, and Kuhn produced doubles against B.I.C, while Eppes and McClain finished with triples.

McClain earned the victory inside the circle, firing three innings, striking out three Mustangs, and surrendering just one hit.