Fort Wayne, Ind. - The Marian baseball team split their Sunday doubleheader at St. Francis, earning a game one win before suffering the series-deciding loss in game two. Marian moves to 17-16 overall and 12-10 in the Crossroads League following the split.

Game 1 | Marian 7-6 St. Francis
Marian reconfigured their batting order on the final day of the series against St. Francis, and found success in the second inning with the new alignment, as four runs crossed the plate following the scoreless first inning. Jacob Dill was hit by a pitch to start the frame, and later Dawson Estep drew a walk, setting up an RBI single for Johnny Roeder. Pierson Barnes would draw a walk, and Caden Mason provided the big spark in the inning with a bases-clearing triple to left field. 

Seth Hogg backed the offense through the first two innings as he allowed just one base runner in two innings, starting the game with a hitless start. Hogg got three more runs of support in the third inning with a Bryce Davenport two-run home run highlighting the frame. Leading 7-0 after Rylan Huntley drew an RBI walk in the top of the third, Hogg faced a challenge in the home half as he gave up a pair of base hits, but dug in to get out of the frame unharmed. The fourth inning would not be a fruitful one for the freshman, as he walked six batters and gave up one base hit, seeing four runs come in to score.

Jayson Cottrell came on in relief of Hogg to get the final out of the fourth inning, and did so with a fly out to left, holding a 7-4 lead. Cottrell would continue to pitch strong despite some struggles in the fifth, as he shrugged off a solo home run and two walks to hold a Marian lead. The southpaw would continue to lead Marian as the offense went silent, tossing a perfect sixth inning and working through a scoreless seventh inning. 

Deacon Spencer was called on in the eighth inning to close out Marian's win, as the second-year pitcher came on to toss the final six outs. Spencer tossed a pair of strikeouts in the eighth inning to protect the 7-5 lead, and in the ninth inning would allow a pair of base hits, but after allowing one run to score, the redshirt-freshman slammed the door with a strikeout and flyout, sealing the win. 

Marian recorded eight hits in the win, getting four in the first three innings and four over the final six. Kameron Salazar went 2-5 in the win, as did Bryce Davenport, who hit his 10th home run of the season. Caden Mason led the team in RBI with three, and Josh Lamb recorded a double in the victory.

Hogg did not factor into the decision, allowing three hits and four runs in the game. The freshman recorded three strikeouts while walking six batters in 3.2 innings. Cottrell earned the win to move to 4-1 on the campaign, throwing 3.1 innings with two hits and one run allowed. Deacon Spencer earned his fourth save of the year, throwing the final two innings, giving up one run while striking out three batters. 

Game 2 | Marian 2-12 St. Francis
In the second act of the doubleheader, Marian's pitching did not bode as strong as it did in game one, with the Cougars pouncing early against Aden Burnside. Marian's sophomore pitcher gave up three hits in the first inning, with a pair of doubles driving in three runs. Burnside rebounded with a scoreless second inning, but in the third inning saw struggles come back, giving up four hits, two of which were home runs, that put Marian into a 7-0 hole. Mitchell Porter relieved Burnside, but failed to exit the third clean, giving up two runs before the inning ended.

Marian's offense started slowly in the first three innings, as the side was retired in order in the first, while a double play after Brodie Rinehold's single in the second inning halted the attack. Another double play ended the third inning which resulted in Marian's 9-0 deficit, and in the fourth inning the Cougars again retired the Knights in order, as the guests sent the minimum to the plate in the first four innings.

Justin Johnson and Jace Stoops pitched the fourth and fifth innings, holding the score static as the pair of pitchers stranded base hits in each of their innings on the mound. Marian broke their shutout in the fifth inning as Rinehold reached on a walk, coming around to score on an RBI single from Josh Lamb. Kameron Salazar would tack on RBI single in the sixth inning, with the Cougars limiting Marian to just one run. 

In the bottom of the sixth the Knights made multiple substitutions, rotating their defensive alignment along with pitcher Cecil Prather, who made his Marian debut. Prather allowed three hits and a pair of walks in the sixth, seeing St. Francis extend their lead from seven to 10 runs. Marian would trail 12-2 in the seventh, and were retired in order in their final at bat of the day, suffering the 10-run defeat.

Marian had four hits in the loss, with Salazar and Lamb recording the only RBI in the game with their base hits. Rinehold and Caden Mason had Marian's other base hits. Burnside took the loss on the mound lasting two complete innings, giving up eight hits and seven runs. Johnson and Stoops had Marian's best outings on the hill, each tossing a scoreless inning.

Marian will finish their road stretch on Tuesday, taking on Mount Vernon Nazarene at 2:00 p.m. as they conclude their season series.

MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos and more.