UPLAND, Ind. - The Marian baseball season came to an untimely end Monday afternoon, as the Knights fell in the Crossroads League Tournament Semifinal to Franciscan rival St. Francis in a 7-5 contest. Marian's season ends with a 25-27 overall record. 

Marian wasted no time finding the scoreboard, driving in a run in the top of the first inning as a single from Josh Lamb and walk to Kameron Salazar set up the offense, as Rylan Huntley was able to deliver an RBI single. Marian would end the inning with two men on base, and in the home half the Cougars capitalized off Marian's pitching, as two walks from Chris Adams allowed an single from Ayden Lichtensteiger to bring home two runs. Adams would get a strikeout to get out of the inning, but in the third walks hurt the Knights' starter again, as an unearned run would score on a passed ball. 

St. Francis led 3-1 after two innings, but would see their edge evaporate in the top of the third as Lamb and Salazar reached to begin the inning, flipping their ways on base from the first inning. Pierson Barnes would walk to load the bases, and Marian picked up RBI in each of their next two trips as Bryce Davenport drew a bases loaded walk and Johnny Roeder recorded a sacrifice fly. Jayson Cottrell would come in to relieve Adams in the bottom of the third as he inherited a two-man on situation, and got three consecutive outs, including an inning-ending strikeout to hold the score at 3-3.

Marian would go in front in the top of the fourth inning as Lamb reached base for a third time, walking and then stealing to get into scoring position, as an RBI single from Rylan Huntley would put Marian on top 4-3. Cottrell stranded three men on base in the bottom of the fourth inning, but in the fifth was unable to hold the Cougars scoreless as three errors would plague Marian. St. Francis scored two runs to take a lead in the fifth, and held tightly to their edge in the after the top of the sixth as base hits from Lamb and Huntley were left on board. 

Jace Stoops came on in relief in the bottom of the sixth inning, and struggled with command as he hit two batters and walked two more, allowing St. Francis to expand their lead by a run. Marian would trail 6-4, and continued to do so entering the bottom of the eighth inning as the Knights were retired in order in innings seven and eight. The Cougars added a run in the bottom of the eighth off of Deacon Spencer to make it a 7-4 game, putting Marian in a three-run deficit entering the final inning. With their final three outs Marian was able to get one more run on a Bryce Davenport solo home run, but were unable to continue the rally as they saw their season end in a 7-5 defeat.

Cottrell was the losing pitcher in the game, allowing two unearned runs and four hits in three innings of relief. Adams recorded three strikeouts in two innings of work, and Stoops allowed zero hits in 1.2 innings of work. Deacon Spencer pitched the final four defensive outs, allowing one run with two strikeouts. 

At the plate, Josh Lamb led the team with a 2-3 game, walking twice and scoring three of the five runs. Huntley went 3-5 with two RBI in his final collegiate game, and Davenport had two RBI going 1-3 at the plate. Roeder and Salazar were the only other Knights with hits in the game.

Marian's season ends with a 25-27 overall record, setting a pair of team records as the team finished third in the Crossroads League Tournament. Marian broke the team record for stolen bases and home runs in a single season.

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