Box Scores - Game 1, Game 2
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University baseball team opened up Northern Athletics Conference play with a pair of thrilling games, but fought for a doubleheader split on the road against host Wisconsin Lutheran College at Neumann Family Field this afternoon, March 31.
The Sabres were a successful ninth-inning rally away from stealing game one, stranding two runners in scoring position before bowing out, 5-4, to the Warriors. In game two, Mitch Gardner (1-0) went eight strong innings before
Brandon Winfield slammed the door in the ninth with his third save of the season in a 3-2 victory.
Marian improves to 8-6 overall, 1-1 in NAC play, while the Warriors move to 3-12 (1-1 NAC).
The Sabres out-hit the Warriors 23-13 in the doubleheader, recording double-digit hit totals in each game, but stranded 21 runners, including 12 in their one run loss in game one.
Coming off his no-hitter performance last weekend,
Sam Forkert was the hard-luck loser in game one after going eight innings and allowing five runs (2 earned) on five hits. He struck out seven Warriors and walked just two.
His counterpart, Alex Raver, went the distance to earn the win after allowing four runs (2 earned) on 11 hits. He struck out six and walked two.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the fourth, the Sabres finally managed to scrape a couple runs across, needing only one hit thanks to a WLC defensive miscue. But the Warriors got one of those back in the bottom of the fourth.
After Marian tied it again in the sixth, WLC made it a two-run lead again and didn't need a hit to regain the advantage. Three errors highlighted a Warrior sixth, two of which were throwing miscues that directly led to runs scoring.
Trailing 5-4 heading into the ninth, the Sabres got back-to-back hits from
Garrett Dorn and
Jace Unrein before
Matt Schroeder sacrificed both of them into scoring position. The next batter,
Chad Langley, then hit one back to the pitcher and Dorn was caught too far off the bag before being retired in a rundown.
Will Martin then lined out to right field to end the game.
Martin led the Sabres with three hits and three runs scored in the game, while
Anthony Porcaro, Dorn and Unrein each recorded two hits as well.
In game two, it was the Warriors who grabbed the early 1-0 lead on Tyler Schoen's RBI groundout in the third inning. It wasn't until the fifth inning when Marian got on the board.
Matt Bromley led of the frame with a double and
Josh Gruenke's groundout eventually brought him home to tie the score.
Both teams traded runs in the seventh before the Sabres made it a thrilling finish in the ninth. Another rally started with a Bromley base hit, he singled and advanced to second on
Ryan Seifert's sacrifice bunt. A passed ball then advanced him to third base before Porcaro executed a perfect suicide squeeze attempt to push ahead the go-ahead score.
Winfield them came in for the save in the ninth and retired three of the four men he faced. Porcaro led the Sabres with a 3-for-4 effort, finishing the day with five hits in all. Martin collected two more hits to also finish with five hits on the day, while Bromley recorded a multi-hit game in the nightcap as well.
Marian returns home to face Lakeland in their conference home opener at Herr-Baker Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
