Dennis Driscoll
Director of Athletic Communications
FOND DU LAC, Wis. – The Marian baseball team used timely hitting and effective pitching to earn a series sweep over Wisconsin Lutheran Monday evening in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference action at Herr-Baker Field.
The Sabres won the opener 6-3 and took the nightcap 8-5.
"Any time we play Wisconsin Lutheran it's a battle," Marian head coach Jason Bartelt said. "We know they were going to give us everything they had – and they did. Two great Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference games and just fortunate to come out on the winning side."
In the opener Tanner Biwer went the distance for the Sabres. He tossed a complete nine innings and allowed six hits, three runs and three walks and struck out four.
"He pitched well and was in control throughout the game," Bartelt said of the Fish Creek, Wis. native. "He's pitched well throughout the year and we finally gave him support on defense."
The offense also did their part to help its pitcher.
In the top of the second with runners at first and second, Adam Ryan doubled to center field to score two runs to give the Sabres an early lead.
Ryan also jump-started a three-run fourth inning for the Sabres.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior singled up the middle to score a run and Tommy Dugandzic followed that up with an RBI single. Towards the end of the inning Earl Vorpagel reached on an error and miscue allowed Ryan to cross home plate and the Sabres seized a 5-0 lead.
Marian (5-8, 3-1 NACC) snuffed out a late Warrior (10-5, 2-2 NACC) rally to close out the game.
In the second game of the twin bill WLU pushed across two runs in the bottom of the third and momentarily grabbed control.
Trailing 2-1 at the top of the sixth, the Sabre offense came alive.
TJ McCoy recorded a RBI double to left field and Tonny Grannis doubled to right field to score two runs. WLU added a run in the bottom half of the inning and Marian led 4-2 after six complete.
Both teams each scored two runs in the seventh and Marian led 6-5.
The Sabres received two insurance runs in the top half of the ninth to close out the win.
Jordan DeBoer earned the win for the Sabres. He tossed six innings and allowed six hits, three runs and three walks and struck out seven. Earl Vorpagel picked up the three-inning save.
McCoy batted 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs.
Marian returns to action Thursday, April 2 for an out-of-conference affair at Wisconsin-Platteville.
