CENTRALIA — The Marion Wildcats advanced to the Centralia 3A Softball Sectional championship game by beating Triad 6-2.

Marion broke open a scoreless game with a five-run third inning, with all five runs scoring with two outs.

Amelia Browning singled home Kenley Ashmore and Jerzy Bittle. Abbi Sherrard followed with a single to center to score Browning. Presley Barnett doubled to deep center to chase Sherrard home, and Tally Cockburn capped the explosion of runs with an RBI single scoring courtesy runner Brianna Reid for a 5-0 lead.

Triad scored single runs in the fourth and fifth to pull within 5-2, but Browning led off the bottom of the fifth with a home run giving the Wildcats a four-run cushion.

Camryn Harre didn’t need, finishing the afternoon by striking out the side in the seventh to end it.

Marion will play defending state champion Highland Friday at 4:30 at Rotary Park for the sectional championship. The winner will advance to the Millikin Super-Sectional Monday in Decatur.