MARION, Ind. - Showing heart and determination, the Marian baseball team overcame a 5-1 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning in Wednesday's Crossroads League Tournament Play-In game, rallying back with five unanswered runs as Max Steffen delivered the walk-off blow against Grace. Marian's 6-5 walk-off victory gives the Knights a 24-26 record as they advance into the tournament bracket.

Grace threw the first punch on Wednesday, striking in the top of the first inning as a two-out RBI single from Josh Cosme drove in the first run of the game against Davis Enfield. Marian quickly got the run back in the ensuing half inning, as an error gave Kameron Salazar a free pass on base, with the second baseman scoring two batters later on Zach Bale's RBI base hit. The Knights would load the bases in the first as Max Steffen had walked before the RBI hit, and Hector Corona recorded a two-out hit, but Grace's Evan Etchison would shut down the scoring opportunity.

Enfield again saw a two-out run score in the second inning, as he allowed a solo home run to John Joyce. The long ball made the game a 2-1 score, where the game stood until the sixth inning. Enfield and Etchison pitched brilliantly after the home run was hit, with both starters retiring the side in order in the third and fourth innings, while Enfield faced the minimum in the fifth as Josh Lamb caught a runner stealing to end the half inning. Salazar reached on another error in the fifth inning, but the Knights were unable to make the two-out freebie sting, trailing by a run as the game shifted to the sixth.

In the sixth inning, Grace began to gain control of the game, seeing a runner reach first on a dropped third strikeout, while a single put runner's on the corners. An RBI fielder's choice would drive in the third run, and make the score 3-1 in favor of the Lancers. Chris Adams came on after the run scored to try and minimize the damage, however, a safety squeeze play executed by Grace scored two runs, with heads-up base running turning the game into a 5-1 affair. 

Marian was unable to respond in the bottom of the sixth, but in the bottom of the seventh, the home team struck big. Hector Corona started the rally with a lead-off single, and was followed on base by a walk drawn by Nathan Pinarski. Kameron Salazar delivered an RBI single to score Corona and end Marian's drought, while Max Steffen kept the inning alive with his two-out walk. Seeking the big hit, Zach Bale delivered for the Knights, hammering a double to left field to clear the bases and tie the game at five runs each. 

With a new life in their dugout, Marian pitched a scoreless eighth inning, as Adams and Jace Stoops combined to retire the Lancers in the frame. Stoops inherited two runners that Adams walked, but needed only one pitch as he forced an inning-ending pop-up. The Knights were struck out in order in the bottom of the eighth as they sought out a go-ahead hit, and in the top of the ninth, Stoops reached into his bag of tricks, repeating Hunter Schumacher's formula as the Marian reliever retired three consecutive Grace hitters on strikes to keep the game tied.

In the bottom of the ninth, Marian delivered in the clutch with their own two-out magic, seeing Kameron Salazar reach first on an errant throw from Schumacher on a grounder back to the pitcher. The wild throw on the play allowed Salazar to take second base, and a balk would move the senior 90 feet away from home. Facing a 3-2 count and the Lancer's closer, senior Max Steffen delivered for the Knights, slugging a base hit to right field, scoring Salazar and walking off Grace with a 6-5 victory.

Steffen's walk-off single was his lone hit of the game, with the senior going 1-3 at the plate with two walks and the game-winning RBI. Zach Bale had a monstrous game at the plate, going 2-4 with a double and four RBI. Salazar reached base safely four times, going 1-5 with an RBI. Hector Corona also had a two-hit game for the Knights in the win.

On the mound, Davis Enfield received a no-decision, throwing 5.1 innings with five hits and five runs allowed, four of which were earned. Adams held the score in check in his 2.1 innings of relief, retiring two batters on strikes. Stoops (5-1) earned his fifth win of the season, all in relief, with the senior striking out three batters in his 1.1 innings on the mound. 

Marian will advance into the Crossroads League Tournament bracket for the second consecutive season, and will matchup with second-seeded Saint Francis on Thursday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. from Indiana Wesleyan.

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