TUCSON, Ariz. – Marian University baseball (1-1, 0-0 NACC) defeated Luther 10-5 before falling to Mount Marty 11-9 to open their annual spring trip.

The Sabres were able to open the day with an RBI single from junior Jonah Landowski in the top half of the first.  Marian was then able to break the game open in the third scoring seven runs to take an 8-0 lead.  Landowski, senior Aaron Schauer, freshman Riley Palmquist, senior Nick Bastien all drove in a run before junior Sean Meyer hit a double to plate three runs to cap the inning.

Luther made things interesting late with a run in the seventh and four more in the eighth to cut their deficit down to three.  Marian would slow down the Norse rally with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to set the final at 10-5.

Junior Garrett Martin (1-0) had a strong first start of the season going 6.0 innings allowing only three hits with 10 punch outs.  Landowski and Meyer each had multiple hits and drove in three runs in the victory.

The Marian offense continued to roll in the second game of the day against Mount Marty plating five runs in the first two innings.  Marian would score four runs in the first frame with junior Nick Dugandzic, sophomore Ricky Lee, and junior Josh Gates all driving in runs.  Junior Michael Snow then brought in Dugandzic in the second inning to put the Sabres ahead 5-0.

Mount Marty chipped away at the Sabre lead with two runs in the fifth before a big seven-run sixth gave them a 9-5 lead.  Dugandzic would record another run batted in during the bottom of the sixth before Mount Marty plated another pair of runs in the top of the seventh to go ahead 11-6.

Marian mounted a rally in the final innings with a triple from Meyer driving in a run with a triple and scoring two batters later to cut the deficit to three.  Palmquist would drive in a run in the ninth to cut the deficit to two, but the Lancers were able to hold off the Sabres.

Senior Aaron Hagberg and junior Noah Imrie each had scoreless innings of relief, while Dugandzic drove in multiple runs and Meyer recorded a three-hit game.

Marian takes on Wheaton in a doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, March 7, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. (CST) from Reid Park.

–FightBlueFight—