BATESVILLE --- The Marion Patriots took a roundabout path to the 2025 postseason, but all's well that ends well. Marion split its 5A East doubleheader on Tuesday evening at Batesville, losing 8-0 and winning 3-2, and the one-run victory in the nightcap assured the team of making it to this spring's state tournament at Benton. The Pats could finish as high as the No. 3 playoff seed with a season-ending sweep of Greene County Tech, or even with a split if MHS can outscore the Eagles in its victory. The 2025 state baseball tournament is scheduled for May 15-17, with the finals the following weekend. Marion (14-11 overall, 7-5 5A East) rode the razor's edge Tuesday night at Batesville, outhitting the Pioneers 5-3 in the first contest, but committing four errors in an eight-run defeat. The Pats took a 1-0 lead in the third inning of the second contest, only to watch the Pioneers score twice in the top of the sixth, leading to Marion adding two of its own in the home half of the sixth for a dramatic one-run victory. In the nightcap, Marion stranded the tying run at third base to end the game. Marion got a quality start from senior right-hander Cohen “Jimmy” Bumbaugh in the first game, allowing but one hit and striking out nine Pioneers, but just two of his five runs allowed were earned. Max Molloy, Carson Catt, Hudson “Turkey” McKewen, Coleman Barnett, and Myles Holt combined for Marion's five hits. Marion circled the wagons in the nightcap, getting a 2-3 night at the plate from sophomore Ladd Langley, including a game-tying double in the bottom of the sixth. Molloy (1-3 in the second game with a walk), Bumbaugh (a walk and a run), Brody Byrd (a walk and a run), Robert Hall (1-3 with an RBI), and Myles Holt (1-1 with a run and a walk) also recorded hits. Barnett worked 5.1 innings in game No. 2, striking out six batters and allowing just one earned run before giving way to Molloy, who finished the game by retiring five of the seven Pioneers he faced to earn the win. Marion struck first in the nightcap when Holt scored on a Batesville error, and Marion's 1-0 lead held until the top of the sixth. That's when the Pioneers scored twice, once on a passed ball, to take a 2-1 lead on a one-out single. But the Pats weren't done. Bumbaugh walked leading off the bottom of the sixth before moving up on a passed ball, and Byrd accepted a one-out base on balls. Langley delivered Bumbaugh with his clutch double to tie the game at 2, and Hall chopped a ball to shortstop that allowed Byrd to come down with the go-ahead run. Molloy walked Batesville's lead-off batter in the seventh, but he got the next three Pioneers in order to claim victory and send Marion to the playoffs again. Marion was 1-3 in the 5A East and tied for sixth place following a doubleheader sweep at league champion Valley View on April 1, but the Patriots scratched and clawed from there, winning four in a row and five of six to make it back to the state tournament. It is the 25th appearance in the state tournament since Marion began varsity baseball in 1981, and the Patriots made their first state tournament appearance the following season. Marion has made the state tournament eight consecutive seasons, including final appearances in 2014 and 2022, when the Pats won the Class 5A state title. WHAT'S NEXT? Marion hosts Southside Batesville on Monday afternoon for a varsity/junior varsity date with a 4:30 first pitch scheduled. The non-conference tilt will also be Senior Night for 2025 seniors Cohen “Jimmy” Bumbaugh, Carson Catt, and Hudson McKewen. MHS hosts Greene County Tech on Tuesday, May 6, for the school's final 5A East doubleheader of the 2025 season. First pitch of the Tech series is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. 5A EAST RESULTS FROM 4/29 Batesville 8, Marion 0 Marion 3, Batesville 2 Valley View 12, Paragould 2 Valley View 12, Paragould 1 Searcy 9, Greene Co. Tech 7 Searcy 4, Greene Co. Tech 3 W. Memphis 3, Nettleton 2 Nettleton 4, W. Memphis 0 5A EAST STANDINGS ON 4/30 SCHOOL CONF. RECORD Valley View 12-0+ Searcy 10-2+ Marion 7-5+ Greene Co. Tech 7-5+ Batesville 4-8 Paragould 4-8 Nettleton 3-9 W. Memphis 1-11 +clinched state tournament berth 5A EAST SERIES ON 5/6 Greene Co. Tech at Marion Searcy at Valley View W. Memphis at Paragould Nettleton at Batesville