MARION, Ind. -- The fourth-seeded Marian College baseball team moved a step closer to earning the Mid-Central College Conference Tournament title as it defeated the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) on Thursday night, 7-5, at IWU Baseball Field in Marion, Ind.

The Cougars struck first by pushing one across in the bottom of the third inning, but Marian responded in the top of the fifth inning with a run of its own to knot the score, 1-1. Sophomore Josh Terrell (Doswell, Va./ Danville CC) singled to open the inning and stole second.

Junior Josh Gerald (Frankfort, Ind./ Frankfort), in an attempt to sacrifice bunt Terrell to third, reached on a throwing error by the pitcher. Terrell scored and the wild throw moved Gerald all the way around to third. The Knights almost moved into the lead as freshman Mike Keltz (Avon, Ind./ Avon) hit a fly ball to center field. Junior Kevin Shepherd (Fortville, Ind./Ancilla JC) tagged, but was thrown out at the plate to quell the rally. However, the Knights had tied the game, 1-1.

The Cougars dropped a pair on the Knights in the bottom half to take a 3-1 lead, but it would not last long as the Knights tied the game again in the top half of the sixth.

Senior Bryston Bangel (Indianapolis, Ind./ Decatur Central) singled to open the inning and stole second. Senior Cody Andrew (Hanover, Ind./Southeastern) walked and senior Joel Strode (Canton, Ill./ Canton) bunted to move the runners over. Senior Jason Moon (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) grounded out to score Bangel and sophomore Chad Morris (Whitestown, Ind./ Lebanon) ripped a single up the middle to score Andrew. The Knights had knotted the score line again at 3-3.

USF took the lead back in the bottom of the seventh, 4-3, but the Knights set themselves up for the victory with a big inning in the top of the eighth.

Andrew started the inning by reaching on an error and Strode followed with a clutch double in an at-bat that featured nine pitches. Moon popped an RBI-single to left field and Morris followed with an RBI-single of his own. After Terrell reached on an error, Keltz singled off the leaping first baseman's glove. Freshman Jaccob Pickett ( Monticello, Ind./Frontier), pinch-running for Morris, did not hesitate as he rounded third and came to the plate with the ball in short right field. The throw was late and Pickett scored to push the score line to 6-4.

Marian added an insurance run in the top of the ninth as Moon hammered a double to deep left field that scored Andrew. With the score 7-4, it looked as if the Knights would cruise to the win with no problems.

The Cougars would not give up as they loaded the bases with one out. Although one run scored, freshman Richard Parrish (Avon, Ind./ Avon) slammed the door on the Cougars as he induced an RBI-ground out and struck out the final batter of the game to secure a berth in the MCC Championship Game. The save was Parrish's first of his short career.

Freshman Patrick Midla (Indianapolis, Ind./ Bethesda Christian) had another outstanding outing as he gave up just two earned runs on eight hits over eight and one-third innings. Midla also walked just three and struck out nine to improve to 2-3 on the season.

Moon led the Knights with a 2-for-5 day at the plate with three RBI while Morris finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. Terrell also added two hits while Andrew added three runs scored in the victory.

The Knights take on Bethel College, which they already defeated 8-7 in 16 innings in their first tournament game, on Friday. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. at IWU Baseball Field in Marion, Ind.