HUNTINGTON, Ind. - The Marian baseball team extended their winning streak to seven games on Friday as they took the first game of their doubleheader at Huntington, but were unable to extend the mark to eight as they fell in game two. Marian is 10-11 on the season and 6-4 in league games.
GAME 1 | Marian 12-5 Huntington
The Knights fell behind early Friday afternoon, as
Davis Enfield got tagged in the first inning for three runs, allowing five consecutive base hits to open the game. Enfield would get an out at the plate on a wild pitch to find a rhythm, before striking out the final two batters to escape the inning. Enfield cleaned his act up with a scoreless second, but was unable to escape the third inning cleanly as he allowed a solo home run with two outs, falling behind 4-0.
Marian's comeback efforts in the game started in the fourth inning, as the team scored their first run of the game on
Zach Bale's solo home run. Marian was unable to produce another score despite getting runners on in the fourth, but in the sixth saw another offensive spark following two scoreless innings from Enfield. Bale opened the sixth with a single, and wasted little time scoring after
Hector Corona launched a two-run home run to get within a run.
Calvin Miller knocked in Marian's next run after
Josh Lamb and
Kameron Salazar reached base, leveling the score.
Elijah Kelly capped the five-run frame with his two RBI single, pushing the Knights on top 6-4 by the end of the half inning.
Davis Enfield let a run slip through the cracks in the bottom of half of the ensuing inning, as a lead-off double would come across to score on a wild pitch in the frame. Enfield finished the inning strong with a pair of putouts, protecting the 6-5 lead entering the seventh inning. Marian would threaten to score in the top of the seventh as they loaded the bases, however failed to score after striking out twice to end the frame.
Chris Adams took over on the hill in relief in the home half of the seventh, and continued his stretch of dominant pitching, striking out the side in the inning while in the eighth the fourth-year Knight worked quickly through a four-batter frame, holding the one-run lead.
In the ninth inning, Marian sealed their win with an offensive explosion, bringing home six runs with two outs. A two-run home run for
Josh Lamb started the frenzy, while the Knights took advantage of poor pitching as seven consecutive Knights were either hit by a pitch or walked. THe series of free passes brought in four runs, extending Marian's lead to seven runs with their 12-5 advantage. In the home half inning, Adams finished his commanding relief appearance with two more strikeouts, closing out the 12-5 victory.
Enfield pitched his longest outing of the season as he moved to 3-2 on the year, throwing 6.0 innings in the victory. The starter struck out eight batters in the win, allowing five runs and 10 hits. Adams recorded a save in his appearance, going hitless for three innings with three runners total reaching base. Adams recorded six punchouts in the save appearance. At the plate, Bale led the team with a 4-5 game, scoring twice while homering and recording two RBI. Corona and Lamb each had two RBI with their two hit games, both belting home runs. Salazar finished the contest 2-3 at the dish.
GAME 2 | Marian 4-9 Huntington
Eli Loichinger made the start in game two of the twin bill, and faced a similar start to his teammate Enfield, allowing two runs in the first inning on two hits. Loichinger escaped the inning with back to back strikeouts following a solo home run, pacing his second inning of work as he scattered a hit and a walk with three consecutive groundouts.
In the third inning, Marian's offense came to life as
Max Steffen started a rally cry with a lead-off walk.
Elijah Kelly doubled with one-out to put two runners in scoring position, and with two outs
Cole McManus drove home both runners on an error. McManus and
Zach Bale would both score in the inning as Bale drew a walk to help bring
Kameron Salazar to the dish, as both Knights scored on the senior's single. Loichinger protected the 4-2 lead with a perfect third inning, but in the fourth the freshman's day came to an end, as three walks loaded the bases, forcing a call to the bullpen.
Mitchell Porter answered the call, but couldn't cleanly leave the inning, allowing three consecutive hits to drive in each of his teammates runs, plus two others. By the inning's end, Marian trailed 7-4.
Marian was unable to strike in the fifth as they stranded a run, and in the bottom half of the inning
Dylan Holmes allowed one of his inherited runners from
Mitchell Porter cross the plate, digging a deeper hole. The Knights' final rally effort came in the sixth inning, as Salazar,
Max Steffen, and
Dawson Estep all reached on a hit or walk, but a strikeout would end the rally effort and keep the guests off the board. Huntington scored one final run in the sixth inning to take their 9-4 hold on the game, ending the night on top by the same count after seeing Marian manage just one base runner in the top of the seventh.
Salazar led the Knights at the plate in game two, going 3-3 with two RBI. McManus had two RBI in the game, while three other Knights besides the second baseman each had one hit. Loichinger fell to 1-1 after the game, allowing three hits and five runs, four of which were earned. Porter allowed four hits and three runs, while Holmes allowed two hit and one run.
The Knights will resume their series on Monday afternoon, as the games originally scheduled for Saturday have been pushed back. Monday's games from Forest Glen Park will begin with a 1:00 p.m. start in the third contest of the series.
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