Box Scores - Game 1, Game 2
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University baseball team settled for a Northern Athletics Conference doubleheader split and fell for the first time at home against Dominican University after a 19-3 mercy-rule win in game one and a 6-5 loss in game two at Herr-Baker Field this afternoon, April 7.
The Sabres pounded out 19 runs on 19 hits in a game one blowout, but couldn't score after taking a 5-2 lead in the third inning of game two. Dominican scored the go-ahead run in the ninth to take the lead and Zack Roszak retired all three batters in a row in the Marian ninth for the save.
The Sabres moved to 11-7 overall, 4-2 in the NAC while the Stars are now 11-10 (3-3 NAC).
In game one, the Sabres trailed 3-0 after the first two innings, but the third inning on the offensive hit its stride against Dominican starter Sean Bolton, who was only able to get one out before being replaced in the third inning. Marian put a 10-spot on the board and went on to score 19 unanswered runs before the game ended after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Every position starter for Marian had at least a hit and a run in the blowout win, led by
Anthony Porcaro's 3-for-4 effort with four RBIs and two runs scored. The top-five spots in the Marian batting order went a combined 12-for-21 in the contest.
Jon Cetnar started the offensive attack with a ringing double off the left-field wall in the second inning, but was stranded at second base. When he came up again in the third, he smoked another double off nearly the same spot on the left-field wall, this time driving in
Jace Unrein to give Marian a 4-3 lead.
The Sabres went on to score 10 runs on nine hits in the frame to take a commanding 10-3 edge.
The Stars got to Marian starter
Sam Forkert (2-1) early on with two first-inning runs on three hits. Forkert would allow another run on a wild pitch before getting out of a second-inning jam with a 4-6-3 double play to limit the damage. He settled down to finish six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, while striking out four to get his second win of the year.
In game two, the Sabres took a 5-2 lead after three innings, but the Stars got all three back in the fourth to tie the game. It would stay that way until the ninth inning when Dominican plated the go-ahead run with one out on a Chad Wickless RBI single to left field.
The Sabres fell behind 2-0 after the top of the first, but
Will Martin hit a two-run double with two outs to tie the game. In the second,
Jace Unrein single in two more to give Marian a 4-2 lead. They would tack on one more in the third thanks to Jon Cetnar's third double of the day, scoring Garret Dorn from second base. Cetnar would finish the day 4-for-6 with four doubles, three RBIs and a run scored.
In the Dominican fourth, Wickless singled home a run to cut the deficit to two before a two-run single by Cunzalo tied the score at 5-5.
Marian starter
Mitchell Gardner lasted four innings, leaving with a no-decision.
Jeff Thomas and
Jake Schaffhauser came in to throw three scoreless frames before
Cory Martin took the ball. The senior got through a scoreless eighth, but the Stars got to him in the ninth with the go-ahead run and he settled for the loss.
The Sabres will enjoy Easter Sunday before going to Rockford for a Monday doubleheader at 3 p.m.
