SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - The postseason did not open with a bang as the Knights had hoped on Thursday night, as the Marian baseball team came up empty in its Crossroads League Tournament opener, falling to Indiana Wesleyan 6-1. Marian drops to the elimination side following the loss with a 35-15 overall record.
The Knights got a strong start in the first inning on Thursday night, getting a quick scoreless first inning from
Eli Loichinger to bring the bats to the plate in the home half. Marian would load the bases in their first crack at the dish with
Landon Sarkey singling and
Hector Corona and
Zach Bale each drawing a two-out walk, but a fly out from
Aiden Kerr would end the frame, spoiling an early chance for the Knights.
Indiana Wesleyan capitalized on Marian's shortcomings with a run at the top of the second, getting two doubles against Loichinger to score the game's first run. Marian was unable to put a man on in the second, and in the third saw Sarkey and Corona each walk, but the duo could not score as Kevin Corcoran got an inning-ending strikeout. The Wildcats would strike again in the top of the fourth, scoring their second run of the game with two outs on a single from Mark Snowden, bringing home a lead-off walk allowed by Loichinger. Marian would strand a
Cole McManus single in the ensuing home half, trailing 2-0 after four complete.
Brayden Coffey would try to rally the Knights in the fifth inning as he singled to open the inning and took a free pass to second on a throwing error, but three consecutive strikeouts from Corcoran ended Marian's threat to get on the board. Loichinger kept Marian in the fight with scoreless fifth and sixth innings, and in the bottom of the sixth, Marian finally pushed across its first run as
Zach Bale hit a solo home run to right field, but the Knights could not rally behind it, trailing 2-1 after six complete.
In the top of the seventh, the game began to slip from the Knights, as a lead-off single and walk put the Wildcats in good position against Loichinger. Small ball then took over, as a bunt and a throwing error on the same play from Loichinger allowed Indiana Wesleyan to expand the lead, making it a 3-1 game.
Chris Adams came on in relief to get out of the jam, getting one out before a safety squeeze scored the visitors' fourth run of the game. Noah Wathen would come in to replace Corcoran in the bottom of the seventh, retiring Marian in order as the game headed to the eighth with the Knights down 4-1.
An unearned run would cross the plate in the top of the eighth inning to increase Marian's deficit to four, putting the home team in a deeper hole. Marian attempted a rally in the bottom of the eighth as
River Pecina and
Zach Bale each picked up singles, and
Johnny Roeder drew a walk, but the bases-loaded opportunity once again came without a score, as the Knights entered the ninth trailing 5-1.
The Wildcats would tack on one more run in the top of the ninth as Adams allowed a solo home run to Jay Tomes, and in the bottom of the ninth, Noah Wathen retired three Knights in order, ending the game with consecutive strikeouts as Marian fell 6-1.
In the loss, Marian left 10 runners on base, including two chances with bases loaded and two outs.
Zach Bale had two hits, including his solo home run, and four other Knights each collected one base hit.
Hector Corona drew two walks in the loss. Loichinger (8-3) suffered his second consecutive loss, pitching six-plus innings with seven hits and four runs allowed. Loichinger punched out six batters on strikes, and his reliever,
Chris Adams, logged three strikeouts in three innings of relief. Adams allowed two hits and two runs, one of which was earned.
Marian's loss drops them to an elimination game, with the Knights
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