Pair of Crooked Numbers Leads Marian Past No. 19 Indiana Tech

INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian baseball team locked in another top-25 upset victory on Wednesday afternoon, as the Knights took down No. 19 Indiana Tech 8-2 from MU Ballpark. The Knights improve to 19-7 on the season following the non-conference win.

Jack Peine made his first collegiate start and started the game strong with a four-batter first inning, brushing off a single in the frame. The sophomore followed up with a three-batter second inning, forcing an inning-ending double play to hang his second zero of the day. Peine would get tagged for a run in the third inning, seeing an unearned run cross the plate after he tossed a wild pitch. 

The Knights had a chance to strike first in the first inning but came up empty after putting two men on, proceeding to follow with a stranded runner in the second and third innings. Kaeb Stebbins relieved Peine in the fourth inning and allowed Indiana Tech's second run of the game in the fourth inning, as a lead-off double eventually came in to score on an RBI groundout. 

Stebbins would rebound with a scoreless fifth inning to keep the game a 2-0 contest, and in the home half, the Knights found run support for the pitching staff after stranding runners in each of the first four innings. Tate Bender led off the fifth with a bunt single, and Brayden Coffey followed with a base hit to left field. The Knights then loaded the bases as Landon Sarkey was able to reach on an error, setting up Zach Bale. Bale was able to beat out an infield single against relief pitcher Kaden Plank, while the throw got away from the first baseman, allowing Marian to score all three runners on base. 

The error gave Marian a 3-2 lead, which would be all the Marian pitching staff needed for the duration of the game. Mitchell Porter came on after Stebbins and pitched three consecutive scoreless innings, retiring each of the nine batters he faced in order. 

Porter's efforts carried Marian into the bottom of the eighth inning on top 3-2, and in their final bats, the Knights hung a six-spot on the Warriors, getting the scoring started with a bases-loaded walk drawn by Calvin Miller. Tate Bender followed the RBI walk with a sacrifice fly, and after a passed ball, Landon Sarkey hammered a ball out of the park in the right field corner, giving Marian an 8-2 lead. 

With the lead secured, the Knights turned the game over to Aiden Kerr, who locked down the ninth inning by striking out the side and closing out the 8-2 victory.

Sarkey had two of Marian's six hits in the win, going 2-5 with three RBI and his three-run home run. Four Knights each had one hit, and Bale, Bender, and Miller each had one RBI. On the mound, Stebbins (4-0) was credited with the win, allowing two hits and one run in the game. Peine pitched three innings with one hit and one run allowed, and Porter logged three innings of scoreless ball, pitching three strikeouts alongside Aiden Kerr.

Marian continues a five-game homestand on Friday when they host a doubleheader against Indiana Wesleyan. Friday's first game begins at 2:00 p.m.

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