Spring Arbor, Mich. - The Marian baseball team split Saturday's doubleheader at Spring Arbor, ending the weekend in a 2-2 split with the Cougars. Marian won the first game on Saturday afternoon 19-3 in eight innings, but fell in the finale of the weekend by a 6-5 final, moving the record to 18-7 on the season and 12-4 in Crossroads League play.

Game One | Marian 19-3 Spring Arbor | 8 Innings
Eli Loichinger continued his strong string of starts as the series resumed on Saturday, mowing down the Cougar lineup in order in the bottom of the first after his counterpart Conner Reed did the same to the Knights' lineup in the top half. Loichinger would fall into trouble slightly in the ensuing second inning as the home team ripped a pair of base hits, with the second being an RBI double from Evan Miller. Marian's sophomore limited damage after the base hit, facing three batters to record the final two outs, sending the game to the third with a 1-0 score.

Marian struck back in the top of the third inning, recording their first hit on Ty Jarvis' single to the left side. Elijah Kelly would be hit by a pitch in the next at-bat, and Brayden Coffey followed with a damaging swing, doubling in a run to level the score 1-1. Loichinger would get a hold in the next half inning as he stranded a double and a walk with back-to-back outs to Kelly at second, and in the fourth, the sophomore received a vaulting lift from the offense.

River Pecina drew a walk to lead off a big fourth inning, and reached second base as Hector Corona walked behind him. The bases were filled after Johnny Roeder knocked an infield single, and Ty Jarvis would follow with his second hit of the game, clearing the bases with a double to left field. Elijah Kelly followed with a double of his own to score Jarvis' courtesy runner, Judah Hennessy, and Landon Sarkey continued the hit parade two batters with a two-RBI single, scoring Kelly and Coffey. The big inning gave Marian a six-run edge, setting the Knights up for success as the fourth would conclude with the Knights in front 7-3 after the Cougars plated two in the bottom half. 

Ty Jarvis continued his big day in the fifth inning as the freshman launched a two-out, two-run home run to right field to reclaim Marian's six-run lead, and in the bottom half, his battery mate pitched out of a jam, as Loichinger got a foul out to end a bases-loaded situation. The sophomore starter would finish his outing with a scoreless sixth inning, getting an inning-ending double play from his middle infield to protect the 9-3 lead.

Marian's offense stole the show the rest of the way, scoring 10 runs over the final two innings to make the game a run-rule contest after eight innings. A sacrifice fly from Jarvis scored the first of three runs in the seventh inning, while a fielding error allowed Cole McManus and Johnny Roeder to score later in the frame. In the eighth inning, Marian's first of seven runs was scored on a wild pitch as River Pecina touched the plate, and Jarvis drew an RBI walk to score Hector Corona for the second. Another wild pitch scored Johnny Roeder, and Cole McManus would come home on a balk, driving the lead to 13 runs. Sarkey, Pecina, and Zach Bale would each pick up an RBI before the inning ended, giving Marian a 19-3 lead.

Mitchell Porter had more than enough support to finish the game on the mound, taking over for Loichinger in the seventh inning. The senior pitcher had his defense turn a double play to get out of a two-hit seventh, and in the eighth, the reliever picked up a strikeout, retiring the side to lock down the 19-3 victory.

The Knights had 15 base hits in the win, and had five players finish with two or more hits. Jarvis had the top day at the dish, going 3-3 with seven RBI and a home run, while River Pecina finished 3-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. McManus, Bale, and Coffey each had two hits in the win, and Sarkey had a three-RBI day. On the mound, Loichinger (4-1) picked up his fourth win of the season, pitching 6.0 innings with three runs allowed. The sophomore allowed nine hits and walked four, striking out four Spring Arbor hitters on the afternoon. 

Game Two | Marian 5-6 Spring Arbor
Marian continued their hot approach at the plate to start game two, getting a lift from a lead-off single from Brayden Coffey, who would go on to steal second base before Johnny Roeder was walked. Ty Jarvis stayed in the lineup as the designated hitter and remained the hottest hitter on the team, doubling to center with two outs to spark a 2-0 lead.

The lead would not last long though, as Spring Arbor was able to claw back and tie the game in the home half of the first, hitting a two-run home run off Seth Hogg. Hogg would settle in and end the first inning tied 2-2, coming back in the second to throw a perfect frame. The Knights tried to get the starter run support in the top of the third, but Jarvis was unable to connect with a base hit, popping up to end the frame with two men on in scoring position.

In the bottom of the third inning, Spring Arbor was able to plate two more runs, ripping a pair of hits against Hogg that doubled their score. Hogg limited the damage to two, and pitched out of a jam in the fourth inning after allowing a double and a walk, striking out the side to keep the game a 4-2 contest. Trailing 4-2, the Knights would tie the game in the ensuing half inning, as Zach Bale delivered a two-run single in the top of the fifth inning, putting Marian back in the game with the score drawing to a 4-4 stalemate. 

To the chagrin of the Marian dugout, the game would not stay tied long, as Spring Arbor was able to roar back in the bottom of the fifth, as Aidan Brunin reached base after getting hit by Hogg, and Joe Tessmer delivered a damaging two-run home run in the next at-bat, pushing Spring Arbor in front 6-4. Hogg would get one more out before exiting the game, turning it over to Jack Peine with the sophomore forcing a pair of groundouts to end the fifth.

Marian was unable to alter the score with their plate appearance in the sixth inning, but was able to stay within two runs as Peine struck out two victims in a scoreless bottom half. Down to their last three outs, Marian was able to get a lead-off base hit from Cole McManus, as the outfielder sparked a rally attempt with his pinch-hit single. Elijah Kelly re-entered to run for McManus and dashed over to third two batters later on Brayden Coffey's double. River Pecina scored Kelly with an RBI groundout, leaving the game up to Zach Bale with one out left for Lucas Dawson. With the score 6-5, Bale was unable to get the best of Dawson, as the Cougars' reliever struck the first baseman out looking, ending the game with the tying run at second in defeat. 

Coffey had a strong outing for the Knights, going 4-4 with a pair of runs scored, doubling three times in the loss. Zach Bale and Ty Jarvis each had two RBI in the loss for Marian. On the mound, Hogg (3-2) suffered his second consecutive loss, pitching 4.1 innings with seven hits allowed and six runs surrendered. Hogg did manage to strike out seven batters over the course of his 13 outs pitched. Peine pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless ball in relief, striking out two batters against one base hit. 
 
Marian will return home for a five-game homestand, opening their ensuing week with a non-conference matchup on March 25 at MU Ballpark against No. 19 Indiana Tech. 

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