INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian baseball team suffered a pair of losses Thursday afternoon at MU Ballpark, dropping the series-opening doubleheader against (RV) Indiana Wesleyan. The Wildcats took game one of the series 9-3, while winning the second 5-4 in extra innings to sink Marian's record to 8-10 overall on the year.

GAME 1 | Marian 3-9 Indiana Wesleyan

Indiana Wesleyan got a good start in the game off of Marian's Joe Nelan, picking up two base runners in the first inning before a flyout thrown by the southpaw stranded two in scoring position. In the second inning, Nelan was not as successful as he allowed a lead-off double, while back to back walks loaded the bases. Indiana Wesleyan took advantage of the bases-loaded situation, picking up an RBI single and a bases-clearing double to drive in four runs. Nelan got help from Rylan Huntley at shortstop to end the inning, as he snared a line drive and made a routine play to limit the damage. 

The Knights managed their first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning on a Dion Wintjes single, but failed to keep the offense in routine at the dish as Drue Young limited Marian's chances. The Knights would manage just one base runner combined between the third and fourth innings while Jace Stoops kept the game a four-run difference. In the fifth the Wildcats tacked on two more to their total against Stoops, getting a pair of base hits to vault their lead to 6-0. Marian was able to get some offense going at the plate in the bottom of the fifth, but came up empty in their attempt to get a run as a single from Huntley and double from Kameron Salazar were both left on base. 

The bullpen turned to Seth Risley in the sixth, who managed to face the minimum after giving up a one-out walk. Risley would give up a run in his second inning of work as an errant throw and successful Indiana Wesleyan squeeze play brought a run home, and in the eighth the Wildcats tagged the redshirt freshman for two more runs, taking a 9-0 lead. Justin Johnson worked a quick ninth to give Marian their final chance to tie the game, with the offense rallying to drive in three runs. Jackson Hogg and Bryce Davenport singled to generate the late offense, and after a walk loaded the bases JJ Rivera slammed an RBI single. A wild pitch brought in another run off of reliever Jake Engelkes, and an RBI groundout from Dawson Estep scored the third, but the rally cry started too late as Marian lost 9-3.

Davenport had two of Marian's seven hits in the game, with Rivera and Estep taking the two RBI. Stoops earned three strikeouts in his time on the mound, allowing three of the IWU hits. Risley allowed one hit and three unearned runs, and Johnson threw a scoreless frame. Nelan suffered the loss giving up four runs and four hits in two innings of work.

GAME 2 | Marian 4-5 Indiana Wesleyan (9 Innings)

The Knights jumped on top of the Wildcats in the first inning of game two, as Chris Adams stranded a potential run at third in the top half of the inning, while a two-out, two-RBI double from JJ Rivera drove in a pair to gain a 2-0 lead. Indiana Wesleyan responded with a run of their own in the second as a pair of bunt singles helped load the bases, allowing Nick Wiley to drop a sacrifice fly into the outfield. Marian was unable to respond in the second inning, and in the third Indiana Wesleyan chalked one more off of Adams, as a lead-off double from MJ Stavola came in to score on a sacrifice fly.

With the game tied 2-2 entering the bottom of the third, Marian's offense went back to work as Kameron Salazar led the frame with a single through the infield. A sacrifice bunt from Trey Heidlage pushed the sophomore into scoring position, who scored easily on Jackson Hogg's RBI hit. The game shifted back in favor of the Wildcats in the fourth inning, with Adams hitting a pair of batters to lead to a bases-loaded situation. Lucas Goodin drew a four-pitch walk off the Marian righty, and a wild pitch brought in the go-ahead run, as Indiana Wesleyan pushed ahead 4-3 entering the bottom of the fourth. 

Marian had a chance to tie or take the lead in the fourth as Caden Jones doubled to lead the inning off and force a pitching change, but reliever Caleb Olsen was able to strand two Marian runners and get out of the inning unharmed. The score held at 4-3 going into the seventh as Adams threw back to back scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth, while Daniel Brenneman pitched a scoreless seventh. With the game still in reach, Marian rallied with two outs in the seventh, as Trey Heidlage singled, while Jackson Hogg reached on an infield ground ball. A error from Olsen on Davenport's grounder back to the mound helped the Knights score the tying run, as the pitcher tossed the ball into right field to score Heidlage. The Knights would load the bases, but failed to score the go-ahead run as Huntley grounded out to end the inning.

Both teams were retired in order in eighth, and in the ninth the Wildcats scratched out a go-ahead run, with a single and double plating the fifth run for the visitors. Brenneman was able to hold the damage to a run, and in the home half Marian got runners on as Hogg singled and Rivera was intentionally walked. Huntley drew a walk in a six-pitch at bat to load the bases, but the Knights came up short as Johnny Roeder struck out in a pinch hit opportunity. 

Marian got a strong game on the mound from Chris Adams, who threw a career-high six innings, striking out four batters in his no-decision. Adams allowed four runs and seven hits, walking just two Wildcats. Brenneman was charged the loss in extra innings, throwing three innings of two-hit relief. At the plate Marian had seven hits, with Hogg and Rivera each logging two hits. Rivera was walked intentionally twice, reaching base in four of five plate appearances. 

Marian and Indiana Wesleyan will finish their series on Saturday, March 11, with game three of the series scheduled for 1 p.m.

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