Knights News
04.10.2007 - [Baseball]
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Marian College baseball team played host to the Grace College Lancers on the heels of a split on Monday. The Knights fell in a marathon in game one, 5-2 (10), but coasted to victory in game two, 9-0, at Marian Baseball Field on Tuesday. The split moves the Knights' record to 9-16-1 and 5-4 in conference play.

After the 5-2 defeat in game one, senior lefthander Jason Moon (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) came out pumped for the second game as he threw a complete game shutout, scattered five hits and struck out three to pick up his first victory of the season. The offense came alive in support of Moon.

A pair of scoreless innings greeted both pitchers, but the Knights were able to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Moon helped his own cause with a long double to left center that brought classmate Joel Strode (Canton, Ill./ Canton) home with the game's first run. The offense was just getting started.

The Knights dropped a five-spot on the Lancers in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Richard Parrish (Avon, Ind./ Avon), making his first start in the outfield, was plunked to start the inning. Sophomore Josh Terrell (Richmond, Va./Danville JC) ripped a double down the left field line to set up junior Josh Gerald (Frankfort, Ind./ Frankfort). Gerald followed with a two-run double down the left field line to increase the lead to 3-0.

After an error kept the inning alive and increased the lead to 4-0, junior Andre Hall (Indianapolis, Ind./Purdue), who reached on the error, stole second. Strode brought Hall home after a dropped fly ball bringing the lead to 5-0. The final run of the inning came when Strode stole third and the throw got away from the third baseman to give the Knights a 6-0 cushion.

The Lancers threatened in the fifth, but left two on base. The Knights tacked on three more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Terrell singled to lead off the inning and stole second after a failed pickoff attempt. Morris followed with an RBI-double to left and Hall brought Morris home with an RBI-single down the left field line. Moon added the final run to the scoreboard as he singled home Hall to give Marian the 9-0 victory.

Game one turned out to be a marathon as neither team seemed to want the victory until the top of the 10 th. Marian opened a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after senior Bryston Bangel (Indianapolis, Ind./ Decatur Central) singled, stole second and was driven home on a double to left center by Strode.

Grace responded in the third and took a 2-1 lead in the fifth. The Knights tied the game in the bottom of the sixth as Bangel, who had singled to lead off the inning, scored on a wild pitch. With junior Nick Schmutte (Sheridan, Ind./Sheridan) shutting down the Lancers, the Knights had an opportunity to win the game in the eighth but a base-running miscue cost the Knights, as it turned out, the game.

The Lancers posted a three-spot in the top of the 10th, but the Knights were not about to go down without a fight. The Knights loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 10th, but were unable to bring home the runs as they fell, 5-2.

Bangel led the Knights as he went 5-for-9 with two runs and a stolen base for the twinbill while Moon finished 4-for-8 with a double and two RBI. Morris went 4-for-7 with an RBI and a run while Strode and Terrell each added three hits in the doubleheader.

The Knights have a day off before they head to Mishawaka, Ind., for a crucial doubleheader at Bethel College on Thursday. First pitch of the MCC doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.