CARROLLTON - Marquette Catholic and Carrollton battled hard on Monday afternoon in Carrollton, but in the end, the Explorers prevailed 4-1.
A Liam Maher two-run triple in the third was a key to the win, with a strong pitching effort by Luke Simmons for Marquette. Simmons struck out seven and allowed only one run and scattered six hits, but kept the Hawks in check the entire game.
Gabe Jones homered for the Hawks in the game in the fifth. Smith, Barnett, Walker, Bottom and Stringer added hits for the Hawks.
Maher and Morrissey had two hits each for Marquette; Weinmann, McAfee, Harrison and Messinger added hits.
Carrollton drops to 20-6 on the season with the defeat, Marquette improves to 18-9 overall.