Williamsburg, KY – Fourth-Seed Northwestern Ohio used strong pitching and timely hitting to defeat fifth-seed Marian 7-3 in the first game of the Williamsburg Bracket of the NAIA Baseball Opening Round Monday morning at Doyle Buhl Stadium.  With the win UNOH improves to 39-18, while Marian moves to 24-26.

The game started out as a pitcher duel with the two teams combining for three hits over the first three innings.

UNOH struck first in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring a pair of runs.  Jack Barrie drew a two-out walked and scored on an Erich Gonzalez double off the wall in right-centerfield to give the Racers a 1-0 lead.  Blake Maines followed with an RBI single scoring Gonzalez to give the Racers a 2-0 lead. 

After a scoreless fifth, the Racers extended their lead in the sixth as Misael Lebron drew a walk to lead off the inning.  UNOH loaded the bases before third baseman Junior Gomez hit a two-run double to deep right-centerfield to extend the lead to 4-0.   The next batter, Dayfran Ortiz, belted a three-run homerun to centerfield to give UNOH a 7-0 lead.

The score remained that way until the top of the eighth when Marian notched back-to-back one-out hits, with a wild pitch gave the Knights runners at second and third.  Zack St. Pierre drove an RBI single to score Henry Fisher and cut the score to 7-1.  Two batters later, Maverick Bacon beat out an infield single allowing two runs to score as Marian cut the deficit to 7-3.

That was the closest the game got as neither team was able to add to their run total over the final two innings for the 7-3 final.

Mike Alexander pitched 7.1 inning scattering eight hits and three runs, while striking out six in the win for UNOH.  Ortiz went 2-4 with three RBI and a run scored, while Gonzalez finished 2-4 with a pair of run scored.

Cody Earl led the way for Marian going 3-3 with a walk, while Bacon finished 1-4 with a pair of RBI.  Matt Burleton took the loss pitching 5.1 innings, scattering six hits and six runs scored.  He started the game retiring the first seven batters he facts.

Northwestern Ohio advances to the next round where they will face top-seed Bryan College tonight at 7 p.m.  Marian drops to the elimination where they will face the loser of the Cumberlands vs. Point Park game tonight at 10:30 p.m.