Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 INDIANAPOLIS - After a shift in the schedule allowed the Knights to open their 2024 season in Indianapolis, the Marian baseball team split their season opening twin bill against IUPUC, taking on the Lions at Bishop Chatard High School. Marian is 1-1 to start the season, winning the second game on the day thanks to Seth Hogg and Jayson Cottrell's combined no-hitter.

GAME 1 | Marian 6-13 IUPUC
Marian got a lift from starter Chris Adams through the first three innings of play, as the leader of the pitching staff tossed consecutive scoreless frames to start the day, including three consecutive strikeouts in the second inning. Adams would yield a run in the third inning of the game, but were able to draw the score in the bottom half as Rylan Huntley scored the team's first run of the season.

Adams would pitch into the fifth inning after allowing two runs in the fourth, as a pair of RBI groundouts brought in two runs. Adams pitched to one batter in the fifth frame of the seven inning game, but saw the Lions score inflate after exiting as reliever Justin Johnson managed just one out, allowing a grand slam in his short appearance. Relievers Garrett West and Mitch Porter would allow five additional runners to cross the plate in the sixth inning, and in the seventh inning Aidan Bishop allowed a run, giving the Lions their total of 13 for the game.

Marian would scratch out offense in the fifth inning as base hits from Rylan Huntley and Dawson Estep helping attempt a comeback effort, with Marian scoring five runs overall in the frame. Marian would get a runner on in the sixth, but were unable to continue their run production, and were retired in order in the seventh to end the game in the 13-6 loss.

Adams would be charged the loss in the season opening game, picking up five punchouts in four-plus innings. Dawson Estep led the offense at the plate with two hits, and Rylan Huntley scored two runs. 

GAME 2 | Marian 12-0 IUPUC | 7 Innings
In the nine-inning contest, Marian wasted no time jumping on the board as freshman pitcher Seth Hogg struckout the first of nine batters in his collegiate pitching debut, setting up the offense in the home half. Caden Mason pounced on a 2-1 pitch and delivered a lead-off home run, and three batters later after base hits by Jacob Dill, Rylan Huntley, and an RBI single from Bryce Davenport, Parker Watts uncorked a three-run home run, helping Marian to a 5-0 start in the first inning. 

Hogg would continue to deal on the mound after his strong start in the first, getting back to back scoreless frames, and in the fourth inning worked around a walk to keep his hitless start going. The first collegiate homerun for Pierson Barnes in the bottom of the fourth inning tacked another run to the Marian's total, and after a pair of strikeouts from Hogg in both the fifth and sixth innings, the offense set out to finish the game.

Mason and Dill each drove in runs in the sixth, as three runs in total crossed the plate. Kameron Salazar scored on the hit by Mason, while an error on Dill's sacrifice fly scored both Dawson Estep and Mason, making the total 9-0. Jayson Cottrell would come on in relief in the top of the seventh and pitched a hitless frame, while in the home half Estep hammered a walk-off three-run bomb, with his first yard call of the season giving Marian the run-rule 12-0 victory.

With Cottrell's hitless frame in the seventh, both he and Hogg combined to throw a no-hitter, allowing three total runners to reach base in the game. Hogg tossed six scoreless frames with nine strikeouts and two walks in his first career pitching appearance. 

At the plate, Dawson Estep led the team with a 3-4 day, tacking on three RBI with his walk-off homer. Watts' and Barnes' each collected their first home runs as Marian baseball players, and Mason added to the home run fest with two hits including his solo shot to lead off the game. 

Marian and IUPUC will finish their series at Chatard High School on Sunday at 12 p.m.

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