Dennis Driscoll

Director of Athletic Communications

FOND DU LAC, Wis. - Senior Ty Gellinger delivered a walk-off RBI single as the Marian baseball team won a 2-1 thriller over Ripon Wednesday evening at Herr-Baker Field.

Junior Earl Vorpagel started the bottom of the ninth inning with a single to right field and moments later stole second base. Tony Grannis singled through the left side and moved Vorpagel to third base to set up Gellinger's heroics.

Despite the obvious pressure, Gellinger simply shrugged it off.

"I knew that I needed to hit the ball hard," Gellinger said. "I had struggled earlier in the game and to come through and win it for us means a lot."

Marian head coach Jason Bartelt echoed Gellinger.

"Ty is a senior and being in that type of situation doesn't faze him," Bartelt said. "He stepped up for us and hopefully we can use this as momentum as the season progresses."

Despite the late-inning offense, the true narrative was the role of the Sabre pitching staff.

True freshman Mark Wallace made the start and tossed seven and one third innings and allowed three hits, one run and three walks and struck out two. AJ Alessi spelled him in the eighth before Mitch Huston pitched the top half of the ninth.

Wallace earned the no decision and Huston picked up his first win of the year.

Tommy Dugandzic, Vorpagel and Grannis each collected a pair of hits.

It was the Sabres first win over the Red Hawks (6-9) since May 5, 2013 when the Blue and White won a 4-3 decision at Ripon.

The Sabres (8-12) return to action Friday at Illinois Tech.