Upland, Ind. - The Marian baseball team lost their first game in the Crossroads League Tournament on Thursday afternoon, falling to host team and No. 18 Taylor in an 11-6 game. Marian falls to 23-26 overall on the year as they slide to the elimination bracket.

Marian and Taylor played to a scoreless start, trading goose eggs in the first inning as Gabel Pentacost retired the Knights in order, while Chris Adams used a double play to prevent a score after allowing a hit and walk in the opening frame. In the second inning Marian jumped in the lead against the top-seed Taylor, as walks to Pierson Barnes and Johnny Roeder put runners on the base path, allowing Dawson Estep to deliver as he doubled to center field bringing in two runs. In the home half Adams protected the lead with a pair of strikeouts, as Marian led 2-0 after two innings.

In the third inning, the Trojans answered Marian's pair of runs with two of their own, as an error in the lead-off spot bit the Knights. Two runs would score on an single from Sam Gladd, tying the game 2-2. The game wouldn't stayed flush for long, as the Knights put up two runs with two outs in the fourth inning, as Estep hit a towering home run over the center field fence, pushing Marian back in front 4-2. Taylor would again find a way to match the Knights' output, answering Marian's efforts in the top half with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Two errors and two hits allowed Taylor to take their first lead of the contest, as they closed the frame on top 6-4.

The offenses were quieted in the fifth inning as Adams got a pair of strikeouts to keep Marian in the game, but in the sixth the redshirt-sophomore was not as successful, giving up a lead-off solo home run, which was followed by a double. Adams would give up one more run over his next two batters faced, exiting the game for Justin Johnson with two outs remaining in the sixth. Johnson would give up one of his inherited runs as a sacrifice fly capped the scoring for the inning, as Marian trailed 9-4 after six complete innings.

Marian responded to Taylor's runs with two scores in the seventh inning, as the team tried to rally back into the game. Nathan Pinarski courtesy ran for Jacob Dill after the catcher was hit by a pitch, and navigated his way around the bases as Caden Mason drove in a run with an RBI single. Mason would reach second on a wild pitch and scored after Josh Lamb reached on an error, but the rally was unable to keep going as a strikeout and fly out ended the half inning. 

The Knights would manage just one base runner with their final six outs of play, coming on a walk to the catcher Dill in the eighth. Johnson pitched a scoreless seventh inning that kept Marian in the 9-6 contest, but was unable to hold the score to the finish line, allowing a two-run home run to Mason David in the eighth inning, ending the scoring as Knights fell 11-6.

As a team the Knights had just four base hits while Taylor had 11. Estep had two of the four hits and four RBI, homering and doubling in the defeat. Mason had an RBI single, and Kameron Salazar had a single going 1-5. Adams suffered the loss as he fell to 3-8 on the year, giving up nine runs, five of which were earned. Adams struck out four and allowed nine hits over 5.1 innings. Johnson pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing two of his own runs to score on two base hits.

Marian will play Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Friday in an elimination game. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

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