TUCSON, Ariz. - The Marian baseball team (6-3, 0-0 NACC) played well as a team and put together a complete game as they defeated St. John's by a 9-4 final.

"Early in the week we talked about putting all three facets of the game together, and that was just a very complete game for us," commented head coach Jason Bartelt following the win.  "Great pitching today, I can't say enough about the start from [Damon] Bartos.  We were pretty banged up coming into this game so we really needed that quality start from him, and Hansen was good in the back end.  We also had the great defense behind them, and the bats picked them up."

Dustin Hodgson would score on a Tyler Thompson fielder's choice to open the scoring in the top of the third before Mitchel Buss cleared the bases with a three-run home run that snuck just inside the foul pole, his first big fly of the year.  The four run third inning would give the Sabres a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

St. John's answered scoring a run in the bottom half of the third and fourth inning to keep the game close at 4-2.  A good offensive sequence in the sixth then helped the Sabres extend their lead to a comforable 7-2 advantage.

Cody Schaefer would reach on an error to begin the inning before Jake Falish layed a perfect drag bunt down the third base line to put runners on first and second.  Jordan Bill then moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt in the next at bat drawing the infield in.  Hodgson took advantage sneaking a ball through the left side of the infield to plate a run, while Earl Vorpagel drove a ball up the middle in the next at bat.  Tony Grannis concluded the scoring in the inning beating out a single to cap off a three-run sixth.

"We were able to play a little bit of small ball, some good bunts, and put the pressure on the defense," said Bartelt on the strong situational hitting throughout the game.  "We then were able to get the big hits we needed and were able to finish off innings."

In the bottom of the seventh St. John's was able to rally for a pair of runs, but Marian answered the next half inning with an RBI triple from Buss, and an RBI single from Schaefer.

Austin Hansen would then shut the door from there going 4.0 innings only allowing two runs off of two hits to finish off the 9-4 win.  Hansen also had five strikeouts in relief of Damon Bartos who improved to 1-1 on the year going 5.0 innings scattering seven hits, while only allowing two runs with four punch outs.  The two combined to hold the 7-9 hitters for St. John's 0-10 on the day.

"Our freshman have performed well all trip, and Bartos only continued that today," said Bartelt on another strong pitching performance.  "You give the ball to your senior at the end there and he did what you would expect, but from first pitch to last pitch we were able to execute."

At the dish the Sabres would have three hitters record three or more hits in Vorpagel Grannis, and Schaefer.  Buss led the way with four runs batted in, while Grannis, Buss, and Hodgson each scored two runs.

The Sabres conclude the spring trip against Wesleyan tomorrow, Friday, March 11, with a 10 a.m. (CST) first pitch.

--FightBlueFight--