Box Score 

PHOENIX, ARIZ. – A ninth-inning, three-run rally by Marian (1-0) handed William Paterson (2-1) its first loss of the season, a 5-4 decision at the Greater Phoenix Invitational March 13.

The Pioneers opened up an early 3-0 lead thanks to a first-inning RBI single off the bat of senior first baseman Will Courter (Roseland, N.J./West Essex) and a two-run homer by freshman J.D. Melendez (Aberdeen, N.J./Matawan Regional) during the top of the second.

Marian got on the scoreboard with two runs of its own during the bottom of the fifth, but William Paterson was able to tack on another run in the seventh after freshman Rob Somers (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) led off the inning with a single, was sacrificed to second, moved to third on a groundout and trotted home on a passed ball.

Trailing 4-2, Marian led off the bottom of the ninth with three straight singles to load the bases, followed by a hit by pitch and another single to tie the score. With the bases still loaded and zero outs, the Sabres elected to try a squeeze play and Mitchell Gardner was able to get down the bunt, scoring Cory Martin to give Marian the victory.

Courter led the Pioneers at the plate with a 3-for-4 effort. Junior Tyler Renner (Matawan, N.J./Matawan Regional) threw 5.0 innings in his first start as a Pioneer and allowed five hits and two unearned runs while striking out six hitters and walking two. Freshmen Steve Coral (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley) and J.J. Moran (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) combined to throw 3.0 innings of scoreless relief, while classmate John Savoie (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) suffered the loss (0-1).

The Pioneers will face Brockport Saturday, March 14, at 5:00 p.m. PT at the Greater Phoenix Invitational.