MEQUON, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University baseball team went into Kapco Park and the Northern Athletics Conference regular season finale needing a series split against Concordia University Wisconsin to clinch a spot in the conference tournament, but the Falcons prevented that from happening with a sweep over the Sabres as stellar pitching and defense sent the hosts in as the fifth seed and the Sabres on the outside looking in, wondering what could have been.

CUW received outstanding efforts from Andrew Mueller and Tyler Adams, who combined to throw shutout baseball in a pair of victories by scores of 4-0 and 1-0. They overshadowed equally impressive efforts by Marian's Sam Forkert and Brandon Winfield. Both hurled complete games without allowing an earned run, while combining to allow just seven singles.

The Sabre offense had its chances and made solid contact throughout the day, but lacked clutch moments, while CUW was backed defensively by an effort that proved too much to overcome.

The Falcons improved to 15-24 overall, 12-10 in the NAC, while the Sabres dropped to 18-16 (11-11 NAC).

In game one, CUW's Brandon Seifert singled up the middle to give the Falcons life with one out in the bottom of the first. After he stole second base, Beau Burgert reached on an error by the Sabre shortstop and Sefiert was able to score for the game's first run.

Forkert was able to sit down the next two batters via a pop out and fly out to end the inning without further damage.

His counterpart, Mueller, worked around a hit by pitch in the second before retiring eight of the first nine batters he faced.

Concordia would threaten again in the third inning, putting together a two-out rally with the help of another Sabre error.

With two on, by virtue of walks, Nick Yenter reached on another errant throw by the Marian shortstop, which scored the second Falcon run and continued the inning.

The next batter, Kyle Hageman singled to right, plating two more runs to make it 4-0.

That seemed to be all Mueller needed as he allowed just three hits the rest of the way and retired the last 12 batters he faced en route to his fourth win of the year.

Forkert finished with four unearned runs on four hits over eight innings, striking out nine while walking four.

In game two, the offense continued to sputter, despite having great chances. One of those scoring threats came in the sixth inning.

Chase Eagan led off the inning with a single down the left field line and Chad Langley followed with a single of his own up the middle.

Garrett Dorn sacrificed both runners to second and third and Ty Gellinger was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. The Falcon hurler, Adams, was able to strike out Will Martin and got Adam Ryan to ground out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the inning, CUW used the momentum to create a scoring rally. Unfortunately for the Sabres, it came at the hands of another defensive miscue as a dropped fly ball in right allowed the leadoff hitter, Doedens to reach and advance to second base. Two batters later, he scored on Seifert's bunt single.

The Sabres couldn't get anything going the rest of the way and went down in order in the ninth against Ty Wester, who recorded his second save of the season.

Marian's Winfield allowed an unearned run on three hits as he struck out six and walked just two in a complete-game losing effort.

Eagan and Dorn both finished with two hits apiece to lead the offense, which left six runners on base in the contest.

Marian will conclude the regular season with a pair of single nine-inning games against Ripon College. The first will take place tomorrow, May 5, with a 2 p.m. match-up in Ripon. The final regular season game will be a 7 p.m. meeting Tuesday, May 7, at Herr-Baker Field in Fond du Lac.