Franklin, WIS – In a thrilling NACC doubleheader played at Franklin Field, home of the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association, Illinois Tech and Marian battled it out in two close games, showcasing intense back-and-forth action. Game 1 saw the Scarlet Hawks overcome an early deficit with a late-game rally to secure a 5-4 victory, while Marian edged out Illinois Tech in Game 2 with a dramatic 8-7 win. Both teams showcased moments of brilliance, but key hits, timely errors, and missed opportunities ultimately determined the outcomes. With the split, the Scarlet Hawks sit at 8-11 and 4-2 in NACC play, while Marian now stands at 8-10 and 3-3 in conference contests. Here's a breakdown of how the action unfolded across both games.
Game 1 Illinois Tech 5 Marian 4
How It Happened
Marian jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, capitalizing on a hit-by-pitch and a walk to set the table. James Bornick drove in the game's first run with a single, and a sacrifice fly by Robbie Knorr brought home another. Marc Jones then reached on a fielder's choice to plate a third run, putting the Sabres up 3-0 before Illinois Tech even had a chance to respond.
The Scarlet Hawks got on the board in the second inning, aided by defensive miscues from Marian. A bases-loaded walk to Jack Friar allowed Illinois Tech to push across their first run of the game. Marian answered back in the bottom half with a groundout RBI by Jacob Kleemann to extend the lead back to three runs at 4-1.
Momentum shifted in the fifth inning when Illinois Tech started chipping away at the deficit. Luke Yachnin doubled to lead off the frame, and Friar came through with an RBI single up the middle to cut Marian's lead to 4-2. The Scarlet Hawks then delivered the decisive big blow in the seventh inning. After another double by Yachnin, Friar once again delivered, singling up the middle to drive in a run. A costly error by Marian's second baseman on a hard-hit ball by Jack Finch allowed two more runs to score, giving Illinois Tech its first lead of the game at 5-4.
From there, the Scarlet Hawks' bullpen held firm. Alejandro Garcia came in to close the door, working around a pair of hits in the late innings to earn the save and secure the victory for the Scarlet Hawks.
 
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
• Jack Friar led the charge offensively, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
• Luke Yachnin had a big day at the plate, collecting two doubles and scoring two crucial runs.
• Cameron Bracewell delivered a strong start, pitching seven innings while allowing just three earned runs and striking out four to earn the win.
• Alejandro Garcia picked up the save with two scoreless innings of relief, shutting down Marian's offense to secure the victory.
 
Inside the Box Score
• Illinois Tech outhit Marian 11-8 and took advantage of three errors committed by the Sabres.
• The Scarlet Hawks were aggressive on the basepaths, swiping four bases, including two from Friar.
• Illinois Tech's pitching staff allowed only two walks while striking out five, keeping Marian's offense in check.
• Marian left nine runners stranded, struggling to capitalize on early baserunners.
 
 
Game 2 Illinois Tech 7 Marian 8
How It Happened
Illinois Tech took an early lead in the first inning when Tyler Gutsfeld doubled to right field, driving in Jack Friar. The Hawks were quick to capitalize on Marian's defensive mistakes, giving them a 1-0 lead. However, Marian responded in the bottom of the first with Jacob Kleemann doubling and James Bornick bringing him home with a fielder's choice, making it 1-1.
The game remained tight as both teams exchanged small rallies. Marian added three runs in the 4th, with Kleemann hitting a two-RBI ground-rule double, putting Marian up 4-1. Illinois Tech answered in the 5th, when Jack Finch walked in an RBI, and Gutsfeld singled in a run to cut the lead to 4-3. However, Marian extended their lead in the 5th, with Bornick doubling in a run to make it 5-3.
In the 6th, Illinois Tech erupted for four runs, highlighted by Friar's double to left center, which drove in Jonah Wilkes and Gutsfeld's two-run homer to right, putting the Hawks ahead 7-5. However, Marian responded in the 8th with a rally of their own, scoring three runs, including a critical 3-RBI double from Bornick, who provided the knockout blow for Marian.
Illinois Tech couldn't respond in the 9th, as they left the tying run stranded on second base. Marian held on to win 8-7.
 
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
• Tyler Gutsfeld delivered a huge offensive performance, going 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, and 3 RBIs.
• Michael Paxson went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, providing a steady presence at the plate.
• Austin Schnurr kept the Hawks in the game with 2.2 IP, 3K, and 0 hits allowed.
 
Inside the Boxscore
• Illinois Tech had 13 hits, led by Gutsfeld and Paxson, but they struggled to convert them into runs when it mattered most.
• Marian committed 4 errors, but the Scarlet Hawks couldn't capitalize fully on the mistakes.
• Despite a 4-run surge in the 6th inning, Illinois Tech left 13 runners on base, a critical factor in the loss. Meanwhile, Marian's timely hits and aggressive baserunning helped them convert their opportunities, ultimately scoring 8 runs on 13 hits.
Up Next
Baseball returns to action on Saturday, April 5th, in a conference doubleheader at Ed Glancy Field vs. Lackland University. First pitch will be thrown at 12 p.m.