One Final Game, One Final Win; Baron Baseball Finishes With Victory

STEUBENVILLE—Eight years ago, the Franciscan University of Steubenville baseball program played its inaugural game against the Bethany College Bison. It was only fitting that on Thursday, in the program's final game, the Bison came back to town. Using a late inning comeback, the Barons earned an 8-7 victory in front of the biggest home crowd they've seen all season.

After getting the first batter he faced to fly out, Baron pitcher Stephen Darrenkamp gave up a single. From there he struck out the number three and four hitters to electrify the crowd of nearly 300 just in time for Franciscan's first plate appearance. That electricity carried over as Jacob Machado legged out a grounder that he hit deep into the left side of the infield, and Anthony Pontarelli hit a line drive double down the left field line to set up second and third with one out. Machado scored the first Baron run on a passed ball, which set up Luke Starre for an RBI double to give the home team a 2-0 lead.

Bethany retaliated to tie up the game in the top of the second, but the Barons regained a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the frame. The two teams went back and forth, scoring runs in the middle innings, and the game was soon tied 5-5 going into the top of the sixth.

"We had lost 13 games this year by two runs or fewer, and they were starting to doubt themselves," Franciscan head coach Robert Marrow said, "but I told them, 'God gave you a gift, and you can do anything that you truly set your mind to.' They proved that to themselves today."

Marrow's team refocused their minds to a comeback, just in time for Bethany's 7-5 lead in the top of the sixth. The Barons chipped away in the bottom of the inning, narrowing the deficit to 7-6.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Barons tied the game again to 7-7, as Machado singled to bring home Thomas Costello. Costello would then be the hero in bottom of the eighth inning as he singled home Parsons for the eventual game winning run.

The top of the ninth was not easy for the Barons, as they needed some defensive heroics to seal the victory. With one out, Matt Paonessa singled up the middle in hopes of starting a rally for the Bison. The next batter was Mike Pegg, who also singled up the middle. Paonessa attempted to go from first to third on the play, but Parsons gunned him out at third base to give the momentum back to Franciscan. With two outs, Matt Talbot struck out the final batter to send Franciscan baseball away with an 8-7 victory in its final game.

"Everyone played their role today," Marrow said. "They did what they had to do, they focused, and they concentrated. They knew they had the opportunity to do it, and they got it."

Talbot got the win on the hill for the Barons as he pitched 3 2/3 innings of two-hit baseball in relief of Darrenkamp. Machado went 1-4 at the plate with two RBI and two runs, while Pontarelli went 1-4 with an RBI and two runs of his own.

Marrow, who is the only head coach in Franciscan's eight-year baseball history, also said that his program was designed to teach more than just baseball. "I'm also trying to coach life, and I don't know that there are many other [baseball programs] where you can look every single player in the eye and know that he gets it. [After the players graduate] we expect them to go out and lead—and lead in a good way—and they get that. They go out and be ripples of change in the world, virtuous change."

In Marrow's final sentiments as the Baron coach, he also had many people to thank. "I'd like to thank every player who ever came through and contributed to this program. We have to thank the University for the opportunity. [Franciscan University] has prepared them to be successful in life, not just in athletics."

The Barons finish out their final season with 6-25 record, finishing 4-14 in the conference.