Re-Watch the Game

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – Conditions were ideal for the home opener at Herr-Baker Field and the Marian University baseball team sent its faithful fans home following a 16-5 romp over nearby Lawrence University in non-conference play this evening, April 9.

Freshman catcher Tommy Dugandzic earned his first start of the season and made the most of it with a 3-for-3 effort, including a run scored and five runs driven in. The Waterford native reached base all four times, adding a walk in his final plate appearance, to lead the Sabres to victory in the home opener.

A total of 26 players got into the game for the Sabres (10-9), who registered 16 runs on 16 hits. Marian starter Brett Barger (2-0) went five innings and allowed three runs on three hits to earn his second victory of the season. Joe Krivit took the loss after just 2.1 innings of work for the Vikings (3-12).

The Sabres sent nine men to the plate in the first inning, plating four runs as Jordan DeBoer, Tony Grannis and Adam Ryan each drove in runs with three straight singles. Dugandzic capped the scoring with an RBI single to right.

With the Sabres clinging to a 4-3 advantage in the third inning, Dugandzic lined a double to left-center field his next time up, driving home two more runs.

In the fourth, Tyler Oren sent his first career long ball over the left-center field fence. It was two-run shot that made it 8-3. Marian would add two more that inning and eventually take a 16-3 lead before the Vikings finally got back on the board in the eighth inning.

DeBoer, Ryan, Oren and Matt Bromley joined Dugandzic with multi-hit games as the Sabres cruised to victory. Also getting in on the fun were senior left-handed pitchers, Sam Forkert and Brandon Winfield, who earned their customary senior at-bats. Forkert walked, while Winfield grounded to second base.

Marian will welcome another non-conference opponent in Illinois Tech to Herr-Baker Field this Saturday, April 12. Start time is set for 1 p.m.