AUBURNDALE, Fla. - Marian University baseball (2-0, 0-0 NACC) defeated Thomas (Maine) 3-1 and 8-5 to open the 2022 season.

A pitching duel opened the day for the Sabres and Terriers with Marian able to take advantage in key situations.  After a fairly quiet first three innings, sophomore Riley Palmquist opened the scoring with a run-producing single in the top of the fourth.  Junior Jeremy Laffoon then drove in Palmquist two innings later to give Marian a 2-0 lead.

Thomas was able to plate a run in the sixth inning but left the bases loaded as the Sabres maintained a 2-1 edge.  The Sabres were able to manufacture a run in the seventh to extend their lead back out to two runs.  Sophomore Logan Rademan would draw a walk before advancing to third off of a balk and sacrifice bunt from fellow sophomore Tyler Blum.  Rademan then scored off of a pass ball.  The Terriers were then held to a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh as Marian clinched the win.

Senior Jonah Landowski (1-0) dominated on the bump striking out seven hitters and allowing just three hits to earn the complete-game victory.  Palmquist led the offense for Marian going 2-for-4 with a run driven in and a run scored.

A quick start to game two saw the Sabres plate eight runs in the first four innings.  In a busy opening inning, graduate student Sean Meyer opened the scoring with an RBI single before a balk saw Landowski cross home.  Palmquist closed off the scoring for the inning with a double to score Meyer.  Meyer then drove in a pair of runs to open the second inning with a double before Palmquist plated Meyer for the second time in as many innings with a single.  This put Marian ahead 6-0 after just two innings of action.

Smart base running had junior Bryce Urbanek score on a dropped-third strikeout in the third before Meyer hit his first home run of the season in the fourth to put the Sabres ahead 8-0.  Thomas rallied scoring a pair of runs in the fifth and three in the seventh.  Sophomore Connor Medvecz was able to end the comeback, though, coming in to record the final out and earn the save.

Graduate student Taylor Middaugh (1-0) had a strong outing going 6.0 innings allowing just one earned run.  Meyer had a dominating game at the plate going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four runs driven in.

Marian takes on Concordia Moorhead tomorrow, Monday, March 7, for a doubleheader beginning at 8:15 a.m. (CST).