INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian baseball team picked up its second upset in as many days over a top-25 team in the NAIA, as the Knights walked off Huntington in extra innings in game on Saturday, winning 5-4 before falling 15-7 in the series finale to the Foresters. Marian remains in first place in the Crossroads League standings after the split, moving to 16-5 overall on the year and 10-2 in league play.

Game One | Marian 5-4 Huntington | 10 Innings
The third game of the weekend between the Knights and Foresters was a classic contest, one in which scoring came early before subsiding due to dominant pitching. Huntington plated the first run of the game in the top of the first as two singles off Eli Loichinger, followed by a wild pitch, which allowed Jace Fowler to score the opening run. Loichinger picked off Cam Clarkson at second base to end the top half of the first, and then in the bottom half, Zach Bale delivered an RBI single against Grant Simmons to knock home Brayden Coffey, leveling the game 1-1.

Loichinger and Simmons locked horns after the runs were scored, with each pitcher trying to outperform the other. Loichinger pitched a perfect second inning, and Simmons worked around a walk to Ty Jarvis in the home half to keep the game even. Both starters were perfect in the third and stranded one runner in the fourth, returning to their perfection streak as Loichinger and Simmons retired the side in order in the fifth. 

The streak of scoreless innings subsided in the top of the sixth, as a lead-off single from Deklan Thompson came in to score on Jace Fowler's RBI base hit, as Thompson stole second base to get in scoring position for the outfielder. Marian was unable to respond in the home half despite River Pecina and Cole McManus reaching base safely, and in the ensuing half inning, Huntington drove in their third run, this being an unearned as Jarvis' throw to catch a runner stealing at third base sailed into the outfield, allowing Owen Imel safe passage home.

Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Marian got their offense back in gear as Nathan Pinarski drew a lead-off walk. Pinarski would reach third on a two-out hit from Landon Sarkey, setting up freshman River Pecina. The rookie delivered once again for his team in the clutch, taking a ride on a 1-0 fastball that he hammered to left field, clearing the fence to give Marian a 4-3 lead. With the game turned on its head, Marian rode Loichinger into the eighth inning looking to get three more outs with the lead, but Huntington was able to tie the contest once more, as a sacrifice fly from Fowler scored Kade Flores, leveling the game at 4-4.

Both Marian and Huntington tapped into the bullpen after the top of the eighth inning, as Keegan Shovlain came on for Simmons. Shovlain locked down the Knights in the eighth, and in the top of the ninth, his new counterpart, Aiden Kerr, did the same, stranding one runner after Cam Clarkson was thrown out on his lead-off single that the Forester tried to stretch into extra bases. Marian had an opportunity in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game as Landon Sarkey doubled and Huntington intentionally walked River Pecina, but Hector Corona was unable to get a base hit, flying out to center to force extras. 

Kerr kept Marian in the game as the team played its second extra inning game of the season, pitching three straight outs in the top of the 10th to bring the bats around once more. Cole McManus struck big for the Knights in the home half, doubling to left field with one out to give the team a chance at winning. Shovlain would get a strikeout to put Marian down to its last out, with Calvin Miller getting the call off the bench to be the hero. Miller saw one pitch before finding the one he wanted, drilling a ball into right field with a walk-off single, scoring McManus from second base after the outfielder barreled through the catcher Keifer Wilson, slapping the plate to close a thrilling 5-4 extra innings win.

Loichinger had the best outing of his young career in the no-decision on Saturday, logging seven strikeouts as he pitched a career-high 8.0 innings. Loichinger was charged two earned runs out of the four allowed, and yielded six hits with one walk. Kerr (1-0) recorded his first collegiate pitching victory in relief, throwing two scoreless innings after allowing one base hit. At the dish, River Pecina led the way for Marian, going 3-4 with three RBI, including his Crossroads League-leading eighth home run of the season. Cole McManus went 2-3, scoring the game-winning run, and Calvin Miller's RBI base hit was his first career walk-off hit. 

Game Two | Marian 7-15 Huntington
In the finale of the weekend series, Huntington quickly set to work on offense, driving in four runs against Seth Hogg in the top of the first inning, taking an early 4-0 lead on the Knights. Marian's leader in ERA was tagged for four runs in the inning, the most allowed in a single game after entering play having allowed three total runs all season. Hogg would get roughed again in the third inning, as the starter allowed a three-run home run to Tanner Reinartz, with the second long ball of the day giving Huntington control as they led 7-0.

Marian's bats got off to a slow start against Kai Newman, stranding a hit in the first inning as the freshman struck out the side, while in the second, the team was retired in order. Marian was unable to work with Elijah Kelly's walk in the third inning, but were able to generate a pair of runs in the fourth, as Aiden Kerr and Kelly each roped RBI singles off Newman in a four-hit frame. 

The Knights trailed 7-2 after four complete, having already turned to the bullpen as Jack Piene entered in the top of the fourth. Piene pitched a scoreless first frame as he stranded a single, while in the fifth, the sophomore notched a strikeout in a four-batter inning. The luck for Piene wore off in the sixth inning, as he gave up three hits, one being an RBI single that scored the Forester's eighth run. Kade Flores would score as the Knights turned a double play, making the game a 9-2 affair entering the bottom of the sixth inning.

Marian would make one final charge at Huntington, bringing home four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the game a three-run difference. Johnny Roeder plated the first with his two-RBI single, and Elijah Kelly knocked in the third with his base hit. Bradyen Coffey would finish the scoring in the inning, sending home Kelly to make the score 9-6.

The three-run difference would be as close as Marian would get, as the bullpen was unable to give Marian a swinging chance in the seventh, as Huntington roughed up the Knights for six runs in the final frame. Mitchell Porter was responsible for the first four runs, exiting the game after failing to get an out in four batters faced. Deacon Spencer would get Marian out of the inning, but not before allowing three hits and walking one batter, taking account for two of the six runs scored in the seventh. Marian would get one back in the bottom of the seventh as Hector Corona picked up an RBI after reaching on an error, but it would be all Marian could muster, as they fell 15-7.

Zach Bale finished the game with the best outing of his injury-riddled season, going 3-4 with two runs scored. Corona went 2-4 in the loss, and Kelly went 2-3 with a walk and two RBI. Seth Hogg (3-1) took the loss, allowing seven runs and seven hits in the three-innings he pitched. 

Marian's next game will take place on Friday, March 20, when the Knights head to Michigan to take on Spring Arbor in a four-game set. 

MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos, and more.