KENOSHA, Wis. - Marian University baseball (4-8, 0-0 NACC) was defeated by Carthage 4-2 in the opener of a twin bill before defeating the Red Men for the first time since 2014 in the nightcap with an 8-3 final.

The opener of the twin bill began as a pitching duel as the Sabres held a 1-0 lead after five innings.  Senior Michael Pappas drove in freshman Nick Dugandzic with a two-out single in the top half of the first inning to give Marian the early lead.  The Red Men were able to break through in the sixth, however, plating three runs, two unearned to take their first lead of the day at 3-1.  

The Sabres rallied to cut into their deficit in the next half inning when junior Jake Falish came around to score after reaching an error.  This would be all the Marian bats could muster, though, as the Red Men added a run in the bottom of the eighth to set the final at 4-2.

Sophomore Zachariah Sandoval (0-2) had a strong start on the bump for the Sabres going 6.0 innings allowing three runs, only one earned, with five punch outs.  Offensively, Pappas and Falish each had multi-hit games to lead the Sabres.

Marian was able to once again get another strong start to open the second game and the offense was able to build a big lead.  The Sabres were able to once again take the first lead of the game when they struck for three runs in the top of the third.  Marian was able to start their rally after two quick outs when sophomore Nick Bastien was hit by a pitch, which was immediately followed by a single from sophomore Tim Dziergas.  Senior Jordan Walker followed that up with an RBI single that opened the scoring.  Pappas then was able to bring in Dziergas before a single from freshman Logan Bosquez plated Walker to put Marian ahead 3-0.

The Red Men plated their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth before the Sabres once again put up a crooked number in the fifth plating four runs.  All of the damage was once again done in with two outs with Bosquez opening the scoring with a double that plated Walker.  After a Falish single and freshman Sean Meyer was hit by a pitch, freshman Landon Gosch hit a single into center field that plated a pair.  Senior Hunter Berry then closed out the rally with a single to plate Meyer as Marian extended their lead to 7-1.

Carthage once again had an answer in the bottom half of the inning plating a pair but junior Ty Peccioli was able to come in and strand runners on second and third to end the threat.  The Sabres then added to their lead in the top half of the seventh when Bastien lifted a sacrifice fly into left field that scored Meyer, which proved to be the final run and set the final at 8-3.

Freshman Garrett Martin went 4.2 innings allowing three runs with Peccioli (1-0) coming out of the bullpen to earn the win tossing the final 4.1 innings only allowing two hits.  Bosquez led the Sabres going 3-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and a run batted in, while Gosch and Berry each had three hits and combined for three runs batted in.

Marian is next set to take on Ripon Thursday, March 29 at 3:30 p.m. before opening NACC play.

--FightBlueFight--