RIVER FOREST, Ill. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University baseball team ran into a juggernaut in first place Concordia University-Chicago as the Cougars came away with a home sweep over the Sabres by scores of 7-3 and 6-3 at CU Cougar Field this afternoon, April 21.

Casey Schreiner spotted the Sabres a 3-0 lead in game one, but the potent CUC lineup answered with seven unanswered runs to come away with the opening game victory. In game two, the Sabres were unable to overcome an early deficit as starting pitching shined for the Cougars.

CUC improved to 22-3 overall, 12-2 in the NAC with the sweep, while Marian fell to 12-10 (6-6 NAC).

With two on and one out in the top of the second, Schreiner took a 1-1 pitch and launched it to left field for his first home run of the season and spotted the Sabres a 3-0 lead in the process.

The Cougars got two runs back in the bottom of the frame and tied the game at 3-3 with a run in third.

Marian starter Bryce Taylor was aiming for his fifth win of the year, but found himself pitching out of trouble often. After CUC tied the game in the third, Taylor threw a perfect fourth inning.

However, the Cougars would score a run in each of the next four innings, including the go-ahead run in the fifth with an RBI groundout from Huber.

With none out in the sixth, Taylor gave way to Brandon Winfield with the bases loaded. The new left hander got the first out with a fielder's choice, but it drove in the fifth run for CUC. The next batter grounded into an inning-ending double play. Winfield pitched two innings, but allowed a run in the seventh, making it 6-3.

CUC would add another run in the eighth, while the starter, Beelen, kept the Sabre bats in check through the eighth inning. Kukulka then came on to pitch a scoreless ninth for the game one win.

In game two, it was Kluss's turn to take the mound for the Cougars and he was up to the task with 7.1 innings of three-run ball. Two of the runs allowed were earned. He struck out five and walked just one for his fifth win of the season.

Binninger led the offense with a 3-for-4 effort and two RBIs. He drove in the Cougars' first run with an RBI triple in the second inning. He then provided some insurance in the eighth with run-scoring single to make it 5-3 and give CUC some breathing room.

The Sabres threatened all game with two runs in the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-2. Matt Bromley and Ryan Blise each recorded RBIs in the inning. In the eighth, a Chad Langley double drove in the Sabres' third run to make it 4-3 Cougars.

The junior would finish with four hits on the day to bring his season average to a team-leading .437. Langley's key double would spell the end for Kluss, but Kukulka made his second appearance of the day and got t final two outs in the inning, stranding Langley at third.

The two runs for the Cougars in the eighth proved deflating for the Sabre offense as Cox came on in the ninth to pick up his seventh save of the year.

Marian will take a day off before hosting Edgewood College Tuesday, April 23, at 3 p.m.