Marian Catholic traveled to Niles for a match-up with East Suburban Catholic league opponent Notre Dame College Prep on Friday afternoon. The Dons of Notre Dame jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and never looked back, winning by a final score of 8-2.

Notre Dame jumped on Marian from the outset, scoring 4-0 in the bottom of the first and the game was never really in question from then on. The Dons were helped by five walks and delivered two hits in the frame. Catcher Matthew Murphy had one of his two hits in the frame and senior Cole Manley delivered a big two-run single to right field.

The Dons would continue to tack on throughout the game, scoring one run in every inning but the second. Murphy hit a one out double in the fourth and was driven in by Kyle Schuster who hit a double of his own to right center. In all, the Dons collected eight hits on the day and walked 10 times. Murphy finished 2-for-4 2ith a double and two runs scored. Schuster went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI, a walk and a run scored. Manley finished 1-for-3 with a walk, stolen base, two RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Nick Giamarusti added a hit, walk, RBI, stolen base and run scored himself.

Uncommitted 2020 RHP Matthew Salomonson started and threw well for Notre Dame. Salomonson, who sat 85-86 mph throughout, got the win, throwing four innings, scattering four hits, one run, none earned, striking out three and walking one. Salomonson utilized his high-front side to hide the baseball, get tilt on his fastball and mixed in a mid-70’s curveball to keep hitters honest.

Marian Catholic’s (16-12) Tyler Fullman, one of the top 2021 arms in the class, started on the mound and showed his dynamic stuff but struggled with command in his outing. The talented, uncommitted sophomore sat 86-88 mph, touching a few 89’s early on his outing. The 6-foot-1, 198-pound, physical right-hander, also showed an improved three-pitch mix. Fullman flashed a few curveballs with late, sharp sweeping action, at 73-76 mph and threw a few changeups in the mid-70’s. Despite the subpar overall outing for Fullman, he will be one to watch in the coming years, as he has a workhorse frame, clean arm and plenty more in the tank.

Marian Catholic’s offense tallied six total hits and scored a run in the fifth inning and one more in the sixth. Cameron Bufford (Grambling State) delivered a sacrifice fly in the fifth, scoring Zachary Schilling and Eddie King Jr. (Louisville commit) led off the sixth with a single and later scored thanks to an error by the second baseman.

King and Michael Bolton (Northern Kentucky commit) led the way with two hits apiece in the losing effort. Pierce Jones (Northern Illinois commit) added a double.

For more in-depth notes from this game - and all other games that we cover - visit the Illinois Scout Blog.

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