UPLAND, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University will play during the second day of the Crossroads League Baseball Tournament on Thursday at Taylor (Ind.) University in Upland, Indiana.

The Wildcats lost in the opening round and fell to the loser’s bracket with a 13-7 loss to No. 4-seed University of Saint Francis (Ind.). IWU staved off elimination and defeated No. 8-seed Marian (Ind.) University 9-5 to move on to Thursday.

Indiana Wesleyan is the No. 5-seed in the league tournament and is in Bracket #1. The quartet of teams play a double elimination tournament with the winning team playing the winner of Bracket #2 that is being contested in Marion.

Michael Caley was hit hard in the opening game with Saint Francis as he allowed nine runs -- all earned -- in 3.1 innings of work. He surrendered eight runs in the first two innings. Jordan Crabb and Jack Collingsworth, Jr. did not fare much better with four runs combined in 2.2 innings as Indiana Wesleyan trailed 13-3 after six inning. Indiana Wesleyan scored three runs in the seventh and one more in the ninth to cut the deficit to 13-7.

The Wildcats tallied 10 hits in the loss and had three players with multi-hit efforts. Brice Davis was 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI, Craig Dollens hit 2-for-3 with a walk and two doubles, two runs scored, and one RBI, while Jacob Murphy added a 2-for-4 performance with a double and two runs scored.

Indiana Wesleyan never trailed in the elimination game with Marian. IWU scored a pair of runs in the third inning courtesy of a Marian error. With two outs in the inning, the Marian shortstop dropped a pop fly by Dollens to extend the inning. Three pitches later Davis ripped a 2-run home run over the left field fence for a 2-0 Wildcat lead.

Marian cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning and the score remained 2-1 until the top of the seventh. Indiana Wesleyan would score six times to lead 8-1. Peter Engle scored the first run of the frame on a Marian throwing error and Jacob Murphy followed with a two-run single. Quinn Nofziger then doubled home one run and a Marian error on a ball hit by Trey Shigley kept the inning alive. Davis made the Knights pay with a two-run single for the 8-1 advantage.

IWU starting pitcher Shane Bryant was in cruise control until the bottom of the seventh. He gave up three runs on four hits and one walk before leaving the game with one out and runners on second and third. Bryan Beachy came in and forced a ground out, which did allow a run to score, and a fly ball to limit the damage. After seven innings, Indiana Wesleyan led 8-5.

Cameron Screeton reached first on a bunt single with one out in the eighth. He stole second base and then scored on a 2-out RBI single by Murphy to extend the IWU lead to 9-5.

Beachy would not allow another Knights base runner over the final two innings to shut the door and pick up his first career save. In 2.2 innings of work Beachy did not allow a Knight to reach base and he struck out three.

Davis was 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI to pace the Indiana Wesleyan offensive attack while Murphy was 2-for-5 with three RBI. Engle reached base twice with a hit and a walk.

Indiana Wesleyan will play again tomorrow in Upland at 3 p.m. IWU will face the loser of the noon game between Taylor and Saint Francis.