Junior Justin Marsden’s two-hitter complete game on the hill keyed Auburn Mountainview’s 8-4 victory over Prairie Tuesday in a loser-out, first round game in the West Central District III/Southwest District 4 3A baseball tournament.

Marsden finished the game with 7 innings of work, with 11 strikeouts, two walks and four unearned runs.

“Justin was exceptional on Tuesday night,” Lion coach Glen Walker said. “He pounded the zone right from the first pitch of the game and was cruising into the seventh inning with a 2-hit, 69-pitch outing. His fastball was electric, and his breaking ball kept the Prairie hitters off balance and at times even made them buckle in their stance. Justin pitched like he is capable of pitching last night.”

Offensively Auburn Mountainview (15-8) roughed up Prairie starter Tyler Armstrong for ten hits and eight runs, six of them earned.

Junior Jeffrey Morgan led the way, going 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs and a double.

Junior Mason Cerillo chipped in with 3-for-2 hitting with two runs scored and a double and junior Josh Swanson had a double and two RBIs.

Senior Tyler Friis addded a double and Marsden and junior Hudson Byorick added an RBI apiece.

The win earned the defending state 3A champion Lions a second-round district contest this past Wednesday against No. 6-ranked Timberline (20-2), with results unavailable at press time.

A win over Timberline keeps Auburn Mountainview in the hunt for the district title, with a 10 a.m. Saturday game against the winner of the match between Mountainview and Bonney Lake (14-8). A win also secures a state berth for the Lions.

A loss and Auburn Mountainview will have to win two loser-out games in the consolation brackets to earn a return ticket to state.