Knights Record Game One Walk-Off in Saturday Split Against No. 24 Huntington

INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian baseball team picked up its second upset in as many days over a top-25 team in the NAIA, as the Knights walked off Huntington in extra innings in game on Saturday, winning 5-4 before falling 15-7 in the series finale to the Foresters. Marian remains in first place in the Crossroads League standings after the split, moving to 16-5 overall on the year and 10-2 in league play.

The third game of the weekend between the Knights and Foresters was a classic contest, one in which scoring came early before subsiding due to dominant pitching. Huntington plated the first run of the game in the top of the first as two singles off Eli Loichinger, followed by a wild pitch, which allowed Jace Fowler to score the opening run. Loichinger picked off Cam Clarkson at second base to end the top half of the first, and then in the bottom half, Zach Bale delivered an RBI single against Grant Simmons to knock home Brayden Coffey, leveling the game 1-1.

Loichinger and Simmons locked horns after the runs were scored, with each pitcher trying to outperform the other. Loichinger pitched a perfect second inning, and Simmons worked around a walk to Ty Jarvis in the home half to keep the game even. Both starters were perfect in the third and stranded one runner in the fourth, returning to their perfection streak as Loichinger and Simmons retired the side in order in the fifth. 

The streak of scoreless innings subsided in the top of the sixth, as a lead-off single from Deklan Thompson came in to score on Jace Fowler's RBI base hit, as Thompson stole second base to get in scoring position for the outfielder. Marian was unable to respond in the home half despite River Pecina and Cole McManus reaching base safely, and in the ensuing half inning, Huntington drove in their third run, this being an unearned as Jarvis' throw to catch a runner stealing at third base sailed into the outfield, allowing Owen Imel safe passage home.

Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Marian got their offense back in gear as Nathan Pinarski drew a lead-off walk. Pinarski would reach third on a two-out hit from Landon Sarkey, setting up freshman River Pecina. The rookie delivered once again for his team in the clutch, taking a ride on a 1-0 fastball that he hammered to left field, clearing the fence to give Marian a 4-3 lead. With the game turned on its head, Marian rode Loichinger into the eighth inning looking to get three more outs with the lead, but Huntington was able to tie the contest once more, as a sacrifice fly from Fowler scored Kade Flores, leveling the game at 4-4.

Both Marian and Huntington tapped into the bullpen after the top of the eighth inning, as Keegan Shovlain came on for Simmons. Shovlain locked down the Knights in the eighth, and in the top of the ninth, his new counterpart, Aiden Kerr, did the same, stranding one runner after Cam Clarkson was thrown out on his lead-off single that the Forester tried to stretch into extra bases. Marian had an opportunity in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game as Landon Sarkey doubled and Huntington intentionally walked River Pecina, but Hector Corona was unable to get a base hit, flying out to center to force extras. 

Kerr kept Marian in the game as the team played its second extra inning game of the season, pitching three straight outs in the top of the 10th to bring the bats around once more. Cole McManus struck big for the Knights in the home half, doubling to left field with one out to give the team a chance at winning. Shovlain would get a strikeout to put Marian down to its last out, with Calvin Miller getting the call off the bench to be the hero. Miller saw one pitch before finding the one he wanted, drilling a ball into right field with a walk-off single, scoring McManus from second base after the outfielder barreled through the catcher Keifer Wilson, slapping the plate to close a thrilling 5-4 extra innings win.

Loichinger had the best outing of his young career in the no-decision on Saturday, logging seven strikeouts as he pitched a career-high 8.0 innings. Loichinger was charged two earned runs out of the four allowed, and yielded six hits with one walk. Kerr (1-0) recorded his first collegiate pitching victory in relief, throwing two scoreless innings after allowing one base hit. At the dish, River Pecina led the way for Marian, going 3-4 with three RBI, including his Crossroads League-leading eighth home run of the season. Cole McManus went 2-3, scoring the game-winning run, and Calvin Miller's RBI base hit was his first career walk-off hit. 

Marian would go on to lose the finale 15-7 to Huntington, and will next play on March 20 and 21 as they travel to Spring Arbor.