Beckley, W. Va. - The Marian baseball team suffered a pair of losses as they closed their series against West Virginia Tech, as the Knights fell short in a pair of high-scoring games. Marian falls to 3-4 overall on the season following the defeat.

GAME 1 | Marian 13-14 West Virginia Tech | 7 Innings
The Knights started the seven-inning game with a quick score in the top of the first, as a two-out triple from Rylan Huntley extended the frame for Seth Hogg, who knocked in a run with an RBI single. The Golden Bears would return the favor and double Marian's output in the bottom of the first, as Davis Enfield allowed a two-run homerun to the game's third batter, as Marian fell behind on the board. After a scoreless second Marian would get a run back and tie the game, as a lead-off single recorded by Kameron Salazar came around to score on a sacrifice fly tagged by Bryce Davenport. 

The 2-2 tie was broken in the top of the fourth inning, as Marian plated three runs. Johnny Roeder was hit by a pitch with one out away to ignite the scoring, with RBI doubles from Caden Mason and Salazar following in the next two of three plate appearances. Marian would load the bases before the inning ended getting a run from Bryce Davenport who drew a walk, but the damage was cut to three, with all three bases occupied entering the home half. The 5-2 lead would be short-lived, as a pair of runners allowed on base by Enfield followed by two singles pushed in a run, forcing a call to the bullpen. Logan Drook entered the game to attempt to limit the damage to one, but would fail to do so allowing three runs to cross before the final out was recorded, sending the game to the fifth trailing 6-5.

The back and forth pace of the game changed in Marian's favor in the top of the fifth, as the Knights plated four runs with a pair of base hits and error helping the cause. Davenport's two-RBI single increased the Knights' lead to three runs with the scoreboard showing 9-6, and in the top of the sixth a two-run home run smoked by Roeder extended the lead to five runs. Salazar and Huntley would tack on RBI singles before the close of the inning, giving Marian a 13-6 lead entering the bottom of the sixth.

In the home half of the frame, Marian's pitching began to weaken, as Drooke hit or walked the first three batters he faced in the inning. Jayson Cottrell came in to relieve and try to limit damage, starting strong with a strikeout. The strikeout would be Cottrell's lone out, as a walk and single plated two runs, and a grand slam saw four more cross the plate. Cottrell was replaced by Garrett West on the mound after allowing three hits that pushed across the eventual game-winning run, as West got Marian out of the long inning trailing 14-13. In their final trip to the plate Marian would get a pair of runners to reach on a walk and error, but couldn't scratch out the tying or go-ahead run, falling by the 14-13 final.

Marian's leader at the plate was Salazar, who finished the game 3-4 with two RI. Davenport posted four RBI in the game, and Huntley had two base hits. Roeder led the team in runs scored, crossing the plate three times. Cottrell would take the loss on the mound to fall to 0-1 on the season, allowing five runs to score. Drook allowed three runs in two innings, and Enfield allowed six runs on three hits in his three-plus innings of work.

GAME 2 | Marian 7-11 West Virginia Tech
Looking to wash the taste of game one out of their mouths, Marian jumped out to an early lead on West Virginia Tech in the second game, scoring five runs in the second inning after getting a scoreless start on the mound from Aden Burnside. A walk to Bryce Davenport started the charge, and the runs crossed the plate after he stole and raced home on an RBI double from Pierson Barnes. Johnny Roeder hit his second homerun of the series with a two-run shot to left field, and a Max Steffen double kept the inning rolling, with Cole McManus and Kameron Salazar belting RBI hits to complete the five-spot.

Burnside avoided major damage on the hill in the second, yielding just one run after giving up a one-out triple, and in the third rolled over three consecutive ground ball outs to the third baseman to keep a lead for Marian. The score held at 5-1 entering the fifth inning, and two more runs were added to Marian's total as Davenport hammered a solo homerun, and Parker Watts and Roeder traded places with a double each to provide a 7-1 advantage.

The bottom of the fifth began to spell the end for Marian's lead however, as Burnside's strong start faded as he allowed a lead-off solo shot, while a pair of walks and three singles followed. Burnside would allow three total runs to score before Seth Risley came on in relief, who was able to get out of the bases-loaded jam but not before allowing two runs to score. Marian was able to maintain a 7-6 lead entering the sixth inning, but in the home half the Golden Bears took advantage of wild pitching, as Sisley walked or hit four batters, with a single and RBI groundout taking West Virginia into the lead. Hunter Reagan would come on to try and get out of the inning, but a walk with the bases loaded and two-run single scored three more, putting Marian behind 11-7 after six complete.

The Knights were unable to produce at the plate over the final three innings, as the Knights managed just three base runners and one total hit. Reagan would settle in on the mound and keep the Golden Bears scoreless over his final two innings of work, but without the offensive production late, Marian ended the game in an 11-7 loss. 

Reagan carried the best line on the mound, throwing 2.2 innings and striking out four batters in his 2024 debut. Risley took the loss allowing five runs in 1.1 innings, and Burnside took a no-decision, allowing six runs in four-plus innings. Roeder led Marian at the plate hitting a double and home run to lead the team with three RBI, and Davenport scored two runs, including his solo home run. Barnes hit a double and scored a run making his first start in center field this season.

Marian will aim to get back in the win column when they travel to Tougaloo College this weekend for a four-game series.

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