FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Sabres closed out the 2012 regular season home and conference schedule with a pair of losses on Senior Day to Northern Athletics Conference rival Concordia University Wisconsin, 3-1 and 11-0 in seven innings, at Herr-Baker Field this afternoon, May 5.
Marian held a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning of game one before the Falcons stormed back to score three unanswered. After three scoreless frames in game two, CUW scored 11 runs over the next three innings en route to the blowout victory.
The Falcons improved to 13-23 overall, 10-12 in the NAC, while the Sabres fell to 16-22 (8-14 NAC).
In game one, the Sabres broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with back-to-back doubles by
John Cetnar and
Will Martin. Martin's hit took a mean left upon impact, preventing a throw home and allowing Cetnar to score with ease.
Concordia would respond in the fifth with a pair of runs, tying the game on an Adam Martz sacrifice fly before Matt Parrent singled home Austin Sarauer to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. Despite taking the lead, the Falcons left the bases loaded for the second time in the game, and through five innings, had left nine men on base.
The Falcons would leave the bases loaded in the sixth as well, but not before adding another run to take a 3-1 lead and knocking Marian starter
Sam Forkert out of the game.
Even with his less than best stuff, Forkert still managed to pitch effectively. The sophomore threw 114 pitches over five and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs (1 earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts and six walks.
Between games, the Sabres honored their eight seniors:
Jesse Blum,
John Cetnar,
Mitchell Gardner,
Kent Lentz,
Jace Unrein,
Matt Schroeder,
Cory Martin and
Anthony Porcaro.
In game two, the Falcon bats came to life Andrew Mueller came in to save the day as Austin Baglow left in the second with an arm injury. Mueller went six innings and scattered just six hits en route to completing the combined shutout.
The Falcons were the first to crack the scoring column with a Nick Doedens RBI double in the fourth. After the Sabres went quietly, the Falcons found their groove offensively.
CUW sent 12 batters to the plate in the fifth inning, scoring eight runs to increase its lead to 9-0. Adam Martz connected on a two-run home run to left field to highlight the frame.
In the top of the sixth, Harry Steldt delivered with a two-run blast of his own to make the score 11-0 and it was all the Falcons would need en route to the mercy-rule win.
Marian will be back in action tomorrow afternoon, weather permitting, to take on UW-Oshkosh in a noon doubleheader to close out the 2012 campaign.
