Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Dennis Driscoll
Director of Athletic Communications
FOND DU LAC, Wis. – The Marian baseball team started Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play on a positive note and split its opening series with Aurora at Herr-Baker Field.
In the series opener the Sabres used effective pitching to subdue Spartans, 5-2. However, in the nightcap the Spartans' got the best of the Royal Blue and White and won 15-0 in seven innings.
In game one Bryce Taylor tossed six innings and allowed six hits, two runs and one walk and struck out seven batters.
"Bryce did a good job for us," Marian baseball coach Jason Bartelt said. "This was his second start of the year and he did what he expect out of him. Solid performance coming out of the game."
The Marian offense came to life in the bottom half of the third.
Earl Vorpagel singled on a bunt and Tyler Thompson reached on a base hit to put runners on first and second.
Ty Gellinger made Aurora pay and doubled to center field to clear the bases. TJ McMoy then added an RBI sinlge to score Gellinger and Marian led 3-0.
The Trojans (11-7, 1-1 NACC) tacked on two runs in the top of the sixth, but the Sabres responded.
Adam Ryan recorded an RBI single and led 4-2 after six complete.
In the bottom of the eighth Vorpagel laid down a bunt to push across an insurance run.
Thompson batted 3-for-5 and Adam Ryan finished 3-for-4.
In game two Aurora used a 10-run first inning to seize control.
The Sabres (3-8, 1-1 NACC) return to the diamond Sunday, March 29 against Wisconsin-Lutheran at 1 p.m. with game two to immediately follow.
