Lawrenceville, Ga. - The Knights trailed for the majority of the game, and after grabbing a lead in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI double from
River Pecina, Louisiana Christian came roaring back in the home half, as the Wildcats walked off Marian 4-3 in game one of the NAIA Opening Round. Marian's loss drops them into the elimination bracket with a record of 35-17.
Playing in its first NAIA Tournament game since 2019, the Knights got off to a quick start on the bases in the top of the first inning, getting two of the first three batters aboard on an error and a walk. Despite
Landon Sarkey and
River Pecina each reaching, the Knights were unable to knock in a quick run, as both men turned away stranded in scoring position.
Eli Loichinger took the mound in the bottom of the first and quickly worked through his first NAIA Tournament inning, retiring the side in order with a pair of infield outs. Marian was unable to do anything in the top of the second on
Ty Jarvis' two-out infield single, and in the bottom of the second, the Wildcats struck first.
Matthew Cody found a 0-1 pitch against Loichinger and hammered the ball over the left field fence, dropping Marian in a 0-1 hole. The Wildcats would get another runner on and reach third in the inning, but a Loichinger strikeout and groundout fielded by
Tate Bender ended the threat.
Both sides would strand runners in the third inning with Loichinger getting a critical inning-ending strikeout to strand two men, and in the top of the fourth, Marian got on the board, getting a lift from
Zach Bale's lead-off single. Bale raced to second on a grounder from Bender, and facing a 2-2 count,
Cole McManus smoked a double to the right field wall, driving home his teammate to tie the game.
Marian would end the inning with two runners on base as they were unable to take a lead, and in the ensuing frame, Louisiana Christian jumped back on top. A single and wild pitch moved a runner into scoring position, setting up Harrison Waxley, who doubled in a run. A pair of outs over the next three batters got Loichinger out of the inning, with Marian trailing 2-1.
The Knights rallied in the top of the fifth to try and level the score, but played with too much fire as the inning empty handed.
Hector Corona sparked the late-frame rally with a two-out single, and one pitch later, as
Zach Bale doubled down the left field line, Corona was peeled at the plate on the relay from left and short, coming up short to end the inning trailing 2-1. Despite the empty frame, the Knights' defense remained grounded, backing Loichinger as he continued his start. The sophomore rolled through a scoreless fifth inning with a pair of groundouts, while in the sixth, Marian's left side of the infield made each out, keeping the game in a 2-1 battle.
Jack Peine took over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh, and the reliever followed the starter's pattern, as the sophomore used just six pitches to keep Loichinger's pace and retire the side in order. The quick inning inspired Marian's bats, as the Knights began to build momentum in the eighth inning.
Hector Corona started the rally by drawing a walk, and his pinch-runner,
Roman Utterback, raced to third on
Tate Bender's single.
Cole McManus walked to load the bases with two outs, but the Knights came up short on scoring, as
Ty Jarvis lined out to the pitcher on a check swing, spoiling the opportunity.
Peine would keep the game a one-run contest after the eighth as he stranded a two-out single, leaving Marian with three outs to complete the rally.
Nathan Pinarski led off the inning by drawing a seven-pitch walk, and the outfielder quickly darted to second on
Brayden Coffey's sacrifice bunt. The game moved to a tie on the very next pitch, as
Landon Sarkey hunted a first pitch single, scoring Pinarski to level the game 2-2. Marian continued the momentum into the next at-bat, as
River Pecina hammered a double down the right field line, scoring his fellow freshman from first to give Marian its first lead of the game.
Leading 3-2 entering the bottom of the ninth, Marian continued to roll with Peine, who allowed a lead-off single. After a sacrifice bunt, the Wildcats entered Gavin Vordick to pinch-hit. The pinch-hitter found a 2-2 curve, and ripped Peine's pitch to left field, walking off the Knights with their 4-3 win.
Marian finished the game with nine hits as a team, getting a 2-5 effort from
Zach Bale to lead the team. Pecina and McManus doubled with their base hits in the loss. Loichinger took a no-decision in the game, allowing six hits and two runs in 6.0 innings of work. Loichinger struck out three batters on the day.
Jack Peine (1-3) took the loss, allowing two runs in the ninth inning of his 2.1 inning relief stint.
Marian faces elimination going forward, playing their first game on the elimination side against the University of Northwestern Ohio on Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m.
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