INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian baseball team fell in back-to-back games on Thursday, as No. 18 Taylor swept the series-opening doubleheader. Marian's record on the season falls to 21-20 after the pair of games, while moving to 16-14 in the Crossroads League.

GAME 1 | Marian 2-12 Taylor | 8 Innings
The Knights started the game strong through two innings as they opted for a bullpen game on the mound, with Kayden Cain throwing two hitless innings to open the game. Marian's offense had a productive start to match the pitcher's efforts, loading the bases in the first inning, but coming up short with a pair of infield outs. In the second inning the bats struck for the game's first run, as a Johnny Roeder single and stolen base came home on Rylan Huntley's RBI single. 

Cain was unable to keep the 1-0 lead through the third inning, as Taylor opened the frame with a single and three walks to score their first run. Jayson Cottrell came on in relief to hold the damage one one, but a sacrifice fly and gimmick two-out single drove in Cain's three runners. Marian ended the inning trailing 4-1, as a Josh Lamb single was left on base.

Cottrell matched Taylor's Gabel Pentacost with a perfect fourth inning, but in the fifth was unable to find the same success as four hits increased the Trojan lead by three runs. Seth Risley entered the 7-1 game in the sixth inning after Marian stranded a two-out walk, and allowed two Taylor runs to score as two of his three walks allowed crossed the plate. Justin Johnson held the score at 9-1 after he was tasked with pitching the seventh inning, but in the eighth was unable to hold the lead, as a pitch left over the plate, giving up a three-run home run to Brennan Frickel.

With Taylor leading 12-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Marian worked to extend the game as Josh Lamb singled and reached second on a wild pitch. Pierson Barnes poked a base hit to right-center to score the team's second run of the game, but the rally would halt there, as Dawson Estep groundout out to end the game in a 12-2 run-rule loss.

Lamb led Marian's offense in the loss with a three-hit game, while Johnny Roeder had two base knocks. Barnes and Huntley had Marian's only other hits, each driving in a run. On the mound, Cain took the loss allowing four runs and one hit. Cottrell threw three innings and yielded three runs on five hits, his first runs allowed in three games. Johnson and Risley combined for five runs in three innings.

GAME 2 | Marian 5-10 Taylor
Walks plagued the second game, as a tight strike zone affected the pitching for both teams. Marian's starter Chris Adams issued four walks in a hitless first inning that saw Taylor take a 1-0 lead, while Marian drew three walks against Nick Crabtree in the home half, but came up empty in the score column. In the second inning Adams fell victim of three more walks after picking up the first two outs, yielding a double to the left field corner to Brayden Manning that cleared the bases. 

Marian stayed competitive after Taylor made the game a 4-0 contest, taking their time at the plate as Jacob Dill, Caden Mason, and Rylan Huntley each drew a walk. The final walk forced a pitching change to Jacob Boyer, who was unable to shut down the Knights as Josh Lamb pelted a two-RBI single to the left side. Huntley would cross the plate before the inning ended on a wild pitch, making it a 4-3 game after two innings.

The third inning leaned in favor of Taylor, as the Trojans broke the game open with five runs. Adams issued two walks before being relieved for Jace Stoops, and like the starter before him, Stoops struggled with the zone as he walked his first two batters. A two-RBI single and sacrifice fly drove in Taylor runs before the end of the frame, pushing the Knights in an 8-3 deficit. Stoops would go on to give up a solo home run to Brennan Frickel in the fourth inning, as he exited the game after the half inning in a 9-3 contest. 

Marian's offense saw runner's reach base in both the third and fourth innings, but came up empty of a timely hit as they left a runner in scoring position in the fourth. Mitchell Porter relieved Stoops in the fifth and closed the game on the mound, opening his outing with the contest's first three-up, three-down frame. The Knights would respond in the bottom of the fifth, getting singles from Callan Gick and Jacob Dill that followed a walk to Bryce Davenport. Johnny Roeder added two runs with a base hit through the left side, ending the inning in a 9-5 game.

The Knights were unable to stack their fifth-inning momentum into the final two frames, getting just one base runner in their final six outs. Porter would allow a run to score in the sixth inning as he gave up a solo home run that capped the scoring, seeing the game end in a 10-5 contest.

Davenport, Gick, Lamb, Dill, and Roeder each had a base hit in the game, with Lamb and Roeder each recording two RBI. Adams suffered the loss on the mound giving up six runs, walking nine batters in two complete innings. Stoops allowed two hits and three runs in two innings of work, and Porter allowed one run over three innings, walking one with three strikeouts. 

Marian and Taylor will complete their series on Saturday, with first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m. Saturday is senior day for Marian, with festivities taking place following the series finale.

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