Upland, Ind. - The Marian baseball team dropped games three and four of their series against the Taylor Trojans Saturday afternoon, getting swept in their final road games of the season. Marian's losses drop them to 16-26 on the year, and 10-20 in Crossroads League play

Game 1 | Taylor 6-2 Marian

Marian's defense held their own against the Trojans, shutting out the 21st ranked team in the NAIA through two innings of play behind the left arm of Taylor Soper. Soper's scoreless streak came to a screeching halt in the bottom of the third inning, as the senior was tagged for a pair of hits in the first three batters he faced, with Camden Knepp's double scoring the opening run of the game. After walking Kaleb Kolpein, Soper was charged with three more runs as TJ Bass took a pitch for a ride to center field, homering to make it a 4-0 game.

Soper got out of the inning with a pair of outs to the right side, and in the top of the fourth Marian got their closest to scoring as Jackson Hogg opened the inning with a single. A groundout and passed ball would advance the outfielder to third base, but a strikeout and pop up left Marian empty in the inning. Soper would strand a pair of Trojans in the bottom of the inning after allowing the bases to get loaded with a double play aiding his cause, and in the fifth got run support as a Rylan Huntley and Dawson Estep home run brought the visitors within two.

The Knights trailed 4-2 going into the sixth as they continued their rally efforts, but were retired in order in both the sixth and seventh despite getting scoreless innings out of their starter. In the bottom of the seventh, Taylor University managed to add to their lead as a single and hit batter would put a pair of runners on base. A wild pitch moved the pair of runners into scoring position, allowing Kolpien to drive in a run on a sacrifice fly. Soper exited after the flyout, and after Daniel Brenneman was able to get one out closer to ending the threat, a passed ball allowed Knepp to trickle home. Brenneman got out of the inning with a line drive out, as Taylor led 6-2 after seven complete.

Marian managed to get runners on base in each of their final two innings at the plate as they attempted to tie the game, but a single from Huntley and walk to Kameron Salazar were stranded in the eighth. In the ninth JJ Rivera roped a single, but was unable to score as he ended the game standing on third as Caden Jones popped out to end the game.

Soper fell to 1-3 on the season after pitching in his third start of the season, lasting 6.1 innings on the mound. The southpaw allowed seven hits and three walks, with all six runs charged to his final total. As a team the Knights had six hits, with Huntley leading the way with two. The shortstop Huntley and third baseman Estep had Marian's only extra base hits of the game, with the duo scoring the only runs for the Knights.

Game 2 | Taylor 6-1 Marian

Taylor again struck first in the second act of the doubleheader, driving in the opening runs of the game in their first bats of the contest. After getting a pair of strikeouts to strand a Jackson Hogg single in the top of the first, a TJ Bass two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning against Damien Wallace provided the damage. Kade Vander Molen would add a double off of Wallace, but the ace on the staff was able to get a strikeout and fly out to end the inning. Marian attempted to answer right away in the second inning as Josh Lamb, Bryce Davenport, and Caden Jones each hit a single, but a double play and failed attempt at a stolen base ruined the chance.

Wallace rebounded after his rough start, tossing a perfect second inning while stranding a two-out double in a two-strikeout third inning. Wallace was again perfect in the fourth inning as the score remained 2-0, but in the fifth the right-hander lost his momentum as Taylor pieced the pitcher for four hits. Over the four-hit inning, the Trojans scored four runs, with Bass, Vander Molen, and Mason David recording RBI hits for the home team. A strikeout would strand David on second base, as Taylor led 6-0 after five complete.

Despite trailing by six, Marian continued to fight as they had six outs remaining. In the top of the sixth Kameron Salazar led the inning off with a single, while Jackson Hogg walked to put a second man on. After a pitching change Marian recorded back to back outs, but were able to load the bases as Lamb was walked. Despite the golden opportunity, Davenport was unable to keep up striking out to end the inning. Ethan Davis came on in relief in the sixth and faced the minimum after allowing a single, bringing the offense back to the plate. In their final at-bat of the game, Marian was able to pick up a pair of runners as Huntley and Salazar walked, and Jackson Hogg singled to score a run with two outs. With two on, Marian's rally came up short, as a strikeout from Taylor pitcher Nick Crabtree ended the game.

Wallace fell to 4-4 on the year with the loss, allowing eight hits and six runs in the game. The right-hander recorded seven strikeouts in the start. Ethan Davis allowed one hit in his relief appearance, picking up two strikeouts in the game. At the plate Marian had six total hits, with Hogg leading the team in his 2-3 performance.

Marian will finish their regular season at home, with six games remaining against St. Francis and Huntington. Marian's final games in the St. Francis series will begin at 1 p.m. on Monday afternoon at MU Ballpark.

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