MILWAUKEE (SabreAthletics.com) – The rain stayed away today, but yesterday's downpour made Herr-Baker Field unplayable for Marian University baseball's doubleheader against Wisconsin Lutheran College as the Warriors played host and took the twin-bill by scores of 10-8 and 2-1 at Neumann Family Field, this afternoon, April 16.
Game one saw sophomore right hander Bryce Taylor suffer his first loss of the season for the Sabres, while Brandon Winfield allowed just two unearned runs on four hits against the Warrior lineup in game two to take the hard-luck defeat.
The losses snapped Marian's four-game winning streak as it fell to 11-7 overall, 5-3 in the NAC. Meanwhile, Wisconsin Lutheran climbed back in contention by improving its mark to 11-8 (5-5 NAC).
Despite losing the home-field advantage, the Sabres were still designated the home team in both games, but weren't able to take advantage in either final at-bat, both of which set up a chance at a final comeback that went awry.
In game one, the Sabres tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first on a Ryan Seifert RBI single to right center. They then took a 3-1 lead in the second inning, taking advantage of back-to-back lead off walks.
In the top of the third, the Warriors made up the difference and then some. After Taylor retired the first two batters of the inning, WLC staged a monster two-out rally where it strung together four hits and a walk to plate home four runs and take a 5-3 lead.
An inning later, the Sabres marked a comeback of their own with three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. In the fourth, it was the bottom of the order that got things started with a leadoff single by Matt Bromley, followed by a walk from Chase Eagan and a hit by pitch from Cole Miklavcic. Seifert then drove a single to left, bringing home two. Miklavcic then scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-5 Sabres.
Two more runs in the fifth made it 8-5 Marian, but WLC would score four in the top of the sixth to make it 9-8. Once again, Taylor retired the first two batters, but an error led to two unearned runs scoring and the end of the day for the Marian starter with two outs in the frame. Brett Barger came on in relief and got the first batter he faced to end the crucial frame.
The Warriors would add another unearned tally in the seventh to provide the final tally.
WLC reliever, Ruppel, pitched the final four scoreless innings to earn the win. He scattered just a ninth-inning hit, while striking out three and walking two to earn the win. WLC pitchers walked nine Marian batters in all.
In game two, Winfield pitched a gem, but the offense couldn't find any rhythm against his counterpart, Mattheis. Both hurlers went the distance with Winfield allowing just four hits, while striking out five and walking two. Meanwhile, Mattheis allowed just a run on seven hits, while striking out six and walking five.
Winfield kept WLC hitters at bay all day long, but a rough third inning spelled the difference in the game. Two errors led to two runs crossing the plate to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead. The Sabres finally cracked the scoring column against Mattheis in the seventh when Dorn's hit by pitch to lead off the frame led to him scoring on a wild pitch later on.
Adam Ryan, who singled to right and eventually reached third base with one out, was tagged out by the pitcher on a Ryan Blise comebacker between third and home. Will Martin, who reached on an error by the shortstop, also made around to third base, but was stranded when Eagan struck out looking to end the inning.
The Sabres threatened in the final two frames, but were unable to scratch a run across and was swept in a doubleheader for the first time this year.
Marian will look to get back on track against Lakeland tomorrow afternoon, April 17. The two teams started their doubleheader meeting on Monday, but it was rained out midway through game one. They will resume game one with the Sabres leading 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Start time is slated for 1 p.m. in Sheboygan.
