APPLETON, Wis. - Marian University baseball (16-20, 11-7 NACC) closed out their non-conference schedule with a bang defeating Lawrence 17-2 in seven innings.

The Sabres opened the game in a big way with seven runs in the top of the first inning.  Junior Matt Nordlund opened the scoring driving in one with a single before sophomore Jake Arens brought in fellow sophomore Nick Bastien.  Freshman Josh Gates then hit his first-career home run, a three-run shot, before a single from freshman Ryan Ellingson and a sacrifice fly from junior Jake Falish had the Sabres ahead 7-0.

Junior Travis Slywka joined in on the action with a run-scoring single in the second to extend the lead but the Vikings answered with a run of their own.  Freshman Nick Dugandzic drove in Gates in the fourth inning before the Sabres scored six more runs in the fifth inning.

Bastien opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly that brought in Ellingson before Nordlund drove a double to right field to bring in Falish.  Arens then singled to bring in sophomore Aren Hagberg before Slywka drove a three-run homer to left field, his first career long ball, to put Marian ahead 15-1.  Junior Cole Clark then closed out the scoring for Marian in the sixth with his first-career long ball, a two-run shot to left.  Lawrence tallied a run in the seventh inning but was unable to prevent the mercy-rule coming into effect.

Freshman Jared Lenze (1-0) earned the victory in his first career start tossing 5.0 innings allowing one earned run and only three hits.  Seven different Sabre hitters had multi-hit games led by Dugandzic who went 4-for-4 with a run scored, one run driven in and one walk.  Slywka led the way with four runs driven in and two runs scored while going 2-for-3.

Marian closes out the regular season at Edgewood Saturday, May 5 for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.  The Sabres need just one victory to clinch a spot in the NACC Tournament.

--FightBlueFight--