KOKOMO, Ind. - The Marian baseball team avenged their loss from two weeks ago against IU-Kokomo with a non-conference win over the Cougars on Tuesday afternoon, as Marian earned a 7-3 win. The Knights are 22-19 with the win.

The Knights manufactured a run in the top of the first inning, wasting no time to get on the board as Nathan Pinarski led off the game with a double, and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly from Zach Bale. The 1-0 lead evaporated in the bottom of the first inning as opener Jack Peine gave up a pair of hits that resulted in two Cougar runs. The freshman would rebound after giving up a two-RBI single, getting two strikeouts to end the first inning.

Trailing 2-1, the Knights wasted no time getting back on the scoreboard, as Calvin Miller's lead-off single in the top of the second was quickly followed by an RBI double from Max Steffen. Brady Armstrong pitched the bottom of the second and retired the side in order, and in the top of the third Zach Bale drove in two more runs to give Marian the lead, as he scored both Pinarski and Cole McManus to make it a 4-2 game. 

Marian's bullpen settled into the game with the lead at hand, as Corbin Wells and Hunter Reagan each threw a three-up, three-down frame as they pitched the third and fourth innings. In the top of the fifth, Marian drove home two more runs, with a safety squeeze bunt from McManus doing a job to score Elijah Kelly, while Miller roped an RBI single later in the inning. Andrew Neff and Jacob Dill entered the game in the home half as battery mates, and after the southpaw Neff walked the lead-off, he grooved into his inning with two ground outs and a fly out preserving the 6-2 score.

In the sixth inning, Aidan Bishop was called on for a relief appearance, and was the lone reliever of the game to fall victim of a run scoring, as the senior gave up back to back one-out doubles, resulting in the Cougars third run. Bishop worked out of the inning with back to back fly outs to center field, holding the Marian lead at three runs.

The ensuing inning saw Marian reclaim a four-run count, with Josh Lamb delivering an RBI single after Zach Bale roped a one-out triple. The base hit from the outfielder gave Marian a 7-3 lead, which would stick as the final score as Marian's final three relievers kept the Cougars at bay at the dish. Carter King used a double play to his advantage as he pitched a scoreless seventh, and in the eighth Caden Bradley brushed off a single and two walks, getting out of a bases-loaded jam with a fielder's choice ground out. In the bottom of the ninth, Jace Stoops slammed the door closed on the Cougars, scattering a single as the senior picked up the final three outs to seal the Knights' 7-3 win.

Marian had 13 base hits in the win, with Bale leading the charge at the plate as he went 3-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. The first baseman had a pair of extra base hits, and drew a walk in addition to his sacrifice fly. Calvin Miller recorded his first-career three-hit game as he went 3-5 at the dish, and Nathan Pinarski enjoyed a 2-4 outing. Of Marian's 13 base hits, six of them were doubles. Corbin Wells was credited with the victory in the game, with the freshman earning his first collegiate victory. Wells, Reagn, King, and Bradley had one strikeout each, and Peine had two.

Armstrong, Wells, and Reagan were the lone pitchers to face just three batters in their inning of work.

Marian will host Grace College this weekend in their final homestand, hosting games one and two on Thursday. Game one is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

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