Cochran, Ga. - The Marian baseball team completed a series victory on Saturday afternoon, as the Knights won the finale over Middle Georgia State by a 7-2 count on Saturday. Marian's win gives them a 2-1 record on the campaign following their first weekend of play.

Wasting little time, the Knights pounced on Middle Georgia State in the first inning on Saturday, driving home four runs in their first trip to the plate. Kameron Salazar was hit by a pitch to begin the contest, and quickly reached third on a pair of wild pitches. Dawson Estep knocked home the senior with an RBI single to plate the first run of the game, and after the bases drew full with three walks that scored the outfielder, Jacob Dill roped a two-RBI single through the infield to cap the four-run frame.

Logan Drook kept Middle Georgia State at bay as he stranded a lead-off walk in the home half of the first inning, while in the second the junior retired the side in order, notching his first strike out of the season. Drook gained a run of support in the top of the third inning as freshman Hector Corona hit his first collegiate home run, driving the ball out of the right field wall to make the game a 5-0 score. The defense continued to back the starter Drook through the fourth inning, stranding a base hit in both innings. Drook exited the game after four complete innings, striking his final batter out to strand two men in scoring position.

The Knights solidified their lead in the top of the fifth inning, as Zach Bale made his first impact on the Marian roster with a towering two-run shot to left, driving home himself and Cole McManus to extend the lead to seven runs. With a firm hold of the lead taken, the bullpen took over on the mound, with Eli Loichinger making his Marian debut in the fifth inning. Loichinger yielded two hits and a walk, but managed to retire the side with strikeouts in the frame to protect the shutout. Mitchell Porter took over in the sixth inning and notched a strikeout in a scoreless inning of work, while in the seventh the righty worked through a solo home run and a walk to minimize the Middle Georgia offense.

Jace Stoops finished the game on the hill for the Knights, pitching a flawless eighth before getting in a jam in the ninth as he allowed four men to reach base. The senior rebounded after giving up a two-out RBI single to end the game with his fourth punch out, closing out the 7-2 victory.

Marian had five hits in the game, with Bale and Corona doing the most damage with their home runs. Dill recorded two of the team's six RBI with his first inning base hit. Drook (1-0) claimed the victory on the mound, allowing two hits in four innings of work while striking three men out. Each of Marian's relievers allowed two hits in their time on the mound, and Stoops led the team in strikeouts with four. 

The Knights are scheduled to return to action next Friday, as they travel to IU-Columbus to begin a four-game series with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.

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