Escanaba senior Eli Gardner makes a throw to first base during a game against Gladstone on April 19, 2024 at Al Ness Field. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

MARQUETTE –Four errors proved costly for Escanaba baseball on Wednesday, falling 3-0 in a pitchers duel to Marquette.

Esky senior Eli Gardner took the mound, and the senior did not disappoint. The young man dubbed “The Deer” didn’t allow his first hit until the bottom of the third, which was met with three-straight groundouts to leave the threat dead in its tracks.

The bottom of the fourth, however, was when thing began to unravel for the Eskymos defensively.

Marquette’s first three batters of the frame reached on erros by Lennox Peacock and Nick Chiu with Peacock’s second error resulting in a Sentinels run.

Garnder recorded his first out of the inning on a ground ball to second, freezing the runners on the corners. Marquette’s Issac Sarles swiped second on the ensuing at bat. Sarles advanced to third off Esky’s fourth error of the game, this time committed by senior Chase Cloutier which allowed another run to score for a 2-0 Marquette lead.

Marquette added a third insurance run on a fly ballto center in the bottom of the sixth.

Esky had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the sixth, but catcher Mikaiden Hughes popped out to short, and freshman Brody Ison struckout on five inning to strand both ducks on the pond.

Garnder allowed three unearned runs off three hits with a trio of walks and a quartet of strikeouts.

Bon LaChance finished 2-for-2 with a double and two stolen bases. Cloutier drew two walks and stole a base. Peacock, Nolan Bink and Ben Johnson also earned base hits.

Sarles allowed five hits, walked four and fanned nine in a complete game shutout.