LOVES PARK, Ill. - The top of the Marian University baseball (6-12, 1-3 NACC) lineup got things going in game two to defeat Rockford 8-4 to salvage a split with the Regents after falling in game one 9-4.

The Sabres were on the board first to open the day when senior Michael Pappas was able to force an error with two outs that scored sophomore Jake Falish and put MU ahead 1-0.

Rockford answered back in the bottom of the second scoring three runs, two unearned, to take a 3-1 lead before the Sabre bats cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth.  All of the damage would come with two outs when junior Hunter Berry would come around to score off a single from senior Tyler Thompson putting Marian down 3-2.

The Regents then gained more cushion when they plated four runs in the bottom of the sixth but the Sabres battled back once again to cut into the deficit in the next half-inning with a two-run home run from Berry that cleared the left field fence.

This would be as close as Marian would manage, however, as Rockford plated a run in the seventh and eighth to set the final at 9-4.

Berry and Thompson each had multi-hit games with Berry going 2-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in.  Junior Kellen Shea (2-2) took the loss going 5.0 innings allowing three earned runs and scattering six hits. 

The Sabre bats came out hot to open game two scoring seven runs in the first three innings.  Senior Tommy Dugandzic opened the scoring in the first with a single that scored freshman Trey Johnson in the first inning.  

Freshman Nick Bastien kept the offense going with an RBI single to score freshman Tommy Miller in the second.  A failed pickoff attempt in the next at bat then allowed sophomore Josh Bartelt to cross the plate, and a Johnson groundout later in the at bat capped off the three-run inning plating Bastien.

Marian rallied for another three-spot in the third opening with an RBI double from Pappas to score Dugandzic.  Bartelt brought in Pappas later in the inning with a sacrifice fly before a wild pitch allowed Berry to score and put Marian ahead 7-1.

Rockford looked poised to start a comeback in the fifth inning loading the bases with nobody out.  The Regents would plate a pair of those runners before sophomore Blake Dillavou slammed the door with a pair of strikeouts and a pop out to keep Marian ahead 7-3.

The Regents managed to cut the lead to three with a solo homer in the seventh but a pass ball would allow Johnson to score to answer that run in the next half-inning and put the final at 8-4.

After a tough game one, the top four hitters in the Sabre lineup went 9-23 in the win.  Dillavou (1-1) earned the win in relief throwing the final 5.0 innings only allowing one run off two hits with four strikeouts.

Marian will next host UW-Stevens Point for a 3 p.m. doubleheader in the Sabres' home opener.

--FightBlueFight--