MISHAWAKA, Ind. - The Marian baseball team split their series opener on Friday afternoon at Bethel University, taking game one by a 14-9 score before falling in the night cap 5-3. The Knights hold a 20-18 overall record following the outing, while moving to 16-10 in the Crossroads League. 

GAME 1 | Marian 14-9 Bethel
Marian wasted little time taking control in the series opener, as their offense came out aggressive with a pair of crooked numbers in the first two innings. In the top of the first inning, a one-out double from Johnny Roeder came in to score on an RBI ground out from Zach Bale, and with two outs, Elijah Kelly knocked in a pair with his base hit to left-center. The 3-0 start for Marian would be bested in the second, as six Knights came around to score in the frame. Kameron Salazar scored on a passed ball for the first of the four runs in the frame, while Josh Lamb and Cole McManus would follow with RBI base hits. Jacob Dill and Callan Gick would each pick up RBI ground outs before the inning concluded, putting the game in a 9-0 Marian lead.

Davis Enfield worked comfortably with the lead, facing trouble in two of his six innings on the day. Enfield gave up two runs in the second after hitting the second Bethel hitter in the frame, as two doubles would score a pair of Pilots. The senior limited the damage to two runs, and proceeded to cruise through the third, fourth, and fifth innings, holding the Pilots scoreless over the three inning stretch. Marian tacked on another run in the top of the fourth inning to take a 10-2 lead on an RBI double from Dill, carrying their eight-run advantage into the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the home half of the sixth, the Pilots were able to attack the Marian pitcher and deliver three runs, as a home run and two other base hits brought in three Bethel runs. Enfield was able to limit the damage to three in the frame, trusting a double play from his defense before getting a strikeout to end the inning, exiting in a 10-5 game.

Dylan Holmes took over for Enfield in the seventh and pitched a scoreless inning as he began his relief appearance. Holmes would allow a two-out walk and double in the eighth as Bethel managed to score their sixth run, but the second-year pitcher was able to cut the scoring with an inning-ending strikeout. In the top of the ninth, Marian gained four runs of insurance off the bat of Cole McManus, with the outfielder tattooing a pitch to right field, roping a two-out grand slam to put the Knights on top 14-6. In the bottom of the ninth, Bethel prolonged the game against Seth Risely and Mitchell Porter as late-game walks allowed three runs to score, however Porter was able to slam the door with back to back strikeouts, ending the 14-9 game in favor of Marian.

Enfield (7-2) logged his sixth consecutive victory with his start on Friday, pitching six innings with seven hits and five runs allowed. The senior retired seven batters on strikes in the win, with Marian's pitching staff recording 13 of the 27 outs as strikeouts. Cole McManus led Marian at the plate, going 3-5 in the win with a career-high six RBI. The outfielder recorded his first grand slam as a Knight in game one of the series. 

Both Jacob Dill and Josh Lamb had a pair of hits in the win, with Dill and Elijah Kelly each recording two RBI. Dawson Estep and Kameron Salazar each scored twice, drawing a pair of walks in the game. 

GAME 2 | Marian 3-5 Bethel
For the third consecutive game two in Marian's schedule, offense was hard to come by, as Weston Harvey and the Bethel pitching staff made life difficult at the plate for the Knights. Harvey struck out the side in the first inning, while Marian's starter Logan Drook matched with a scoreless inning, seeing four batters in the bottom of the first. Harvey again shut down Marian in order in the second, while in the home half an error gave Bethel life, as Drook would allow an RBI single before getting a ground out to end the frame.

Trailing 1-0, Marian was able to break through in the top of the third inning, delivering a game-tying run with two outs. Nathan Pinarski drew a two-out walk, and moved well into scoring position with a pair of wild pitches. Kameron Salazar finished the job with an RBI single, tying the game 1-1. Drook stranded a walk in the bottom of the third to keep the score level, and in the fourth inning both Harvey and Drook retired the side in order, seeing the 1-1 contest move into the fifth inning.

Calvin Miller sparked a strong fifth inning for Marian with a lead-off single, and scored three batters later as error from Bethel allowed the designated hitter a free base to score from third. Kameron Salazar would score on a wild pitch as the inning moved on, doubling Marian's lead as the two unearned runs against Harvey gave them a 3-1 lead. The two-run lead would not hold long, as three walks and a pair of singles given up by the Knights' pitcher loaded the bases and tied the score 3-3. Chris Adams came on in relief with an inherited bases loaded jam and 2-0 count, walking in two runs before getting a pair of strikeouts to end the frame. 

The pair of walks made the score 5-3 in favor of Bethel, and in the sixth inning neither team added to their total despite each team throwing a walk. With three outs remaining to get two runs, Bethel turned the game over to Tim Dillehay to end the game. Kameron Salazar singled with two outs to attempt and rally the Knights, but Cole McManus was unable to keep the frame going as he flew out to right field to see the game conclude in a 5-3 defeat.

Marian had three hits in the loss, getting two from Salazar and another from Miller. The Knights struck out 11 times in the loss, and drew four walks at the plate. Drook (1-4) took the loss on the mound, being charged with five runs, four of which were earned. Drook walked four and yielded three hits while striking out four, and in 1.2 innings of relief, Adams walked three and struck out three. 

The series between the Knights and Pilots will conclude on Saturday afternoon, with game three slated for 1:00 p.m.

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