FOND DU LAC, Wis. – The 2015 Marian baseball team welcomes 12 newcomers and 39 returners from its 2014 team that finished 17-21 and 9-11 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. 

For Marian to be successful in the 2015, its offense will carry the load – and rightfully so.

As a team in 2014 the Sabres scored 241 runs, batted .315, sported a .406 on-base percentage and held a .419 slugging percentage.

"Our overall team strength should be offense," Marian head baseball coach Jason Bartelt. "We bring back our entire offense from last season. We even have the first three to four players off the bench from last year back. We are going to rely on our offense and the ability to score runs."

The offense will start with leadoff hitter Cole Miklavcic. In 2014 the 5-foot-11 junior appeared in 35 games and sported a .341 batting average. His 47 hits were tied for the team lead. He also scored 32 runs, while driving in 19 runs. 

"He's led off pretty much every game since he's been with the program,"Bartelt said. "He's a fast, fast kid and a great athlete. He will set the table for us and dictate what we do offensively." 

In the two-hole will be Ty Gellinger. The 6-foot, 180-pound senior had a stellar 2014 campaign. He started 31 games and batted .336 had 37 hits – 13 of which went for extra-bases. He also recorded a .432 on-base percentage and a .491 slugging percentage. 

"He's penciled in as right field and has good instincts on the field," Bartelt said. "He can hit for power on occasion and is pretty reliable." 

This brings the Sabres to the Jordan DeBoer batting third.

DeBoer, a product out of Waupun, Wis. was a 2014 All-NACC Honorable Mention and appeared in 38 games for the Sabres. He tied for the team lead in hits with 47, as well as driving in team-high 27 runs. 

"He's going to move over to third base this year," added Bartelt. "He's a great kid and will be a threat in the three-hole for us." 

Marian must replace two left-handed seniors, Sam Forkert and Brandon Winfield. The duo was consistent on the mound for the Sabres and their void will likely be replaced by depth. 

"We aren't going to have a staff with a clear-cut No. 1 starter, and that's okay," Bartelt said. "We have great depth on the mound and we have eight pitchers that can fit into various roles, rather it be starting, middle relief or closing out games."

Marian was picked to finish seventh in the NACC and has a team goal of qualifying for the conference tournament.

"Our expectation is to qualify for the conference tournament," Bartelt said. "I don't care if we are the No. 6 or No. 1 seed.  Once you get in that setting anything can happen. In tournaments of that nature depth is pivotal. I would put our depth against any team in our conference. If we have to win three or five games in a weekend I like our chances." 

The Sabres begin their annual spring trip to Tucson, Ariz. March 12 with a doubleheader against Bethany Lutheran.