National Champion Etta Express will defend its title in Appleton after winning Mideast Regional Championship
Marietta defeats Ohio Wesleyan 15-4 to win 20th regional crown

May 19, 2007
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — Head Coach Brian Brewer and the 2007 Marietta College baseball team has defied the odds and will be heading back to Appleton, Wisconsin, to defend it NCAA Division III National Championship. The four-time National Champion Etta Express bounced back from a 7-3 loss to Ohio Wesleyan in the first game Saturday (May 19) afternoon at Mills Field to route the Battling Bishops, 15-4, in the next contest and claim its 20th Mideast Regional title.

Marietta, who will make its fourth trip to the World Series since 2001, improved to 32-15. Ohio Wesleyan closed the season at 27-16. The Pioneers have captured four national championships (1981, 1983, 1986 and 2006) and have finished runners-up seven times. The Etta Express will open World Series play Friday (May 25) against the winner of the West Regional at 5:30 p.m.

Marietta, the fifth seed, collected 14 hits and took advantage of six Ohio Wesleyan errors while leaving 14 runners on base in the final game. The sixth-seeded Battling Bishops had eight hits, left nine on base and were aided by five Pioneers errors.

Sophomore Justin Merryman (New Philadelphia) was named the Most Valuable Player of the Mideast Regional after picking up his second victory of the weekend in the championship game. Merryman (9-3), who threw a complete-game, six-hitter in Marietta’s 9-1 victory over Hope (Mich.) on day one, scattered four runs (two earned) on four hits and struck out four in five innings on two day’s rest to lead the Pioneers back to Appleton.

Joining Merryman on the All-Tournament Team were sophomore T.J. Knowlton (Greenwich/Mapleton), sophomore Brennan Cribbins (Middleburg Heights/Midpark), senior Joe Litke (Windsor, Conn.) and freshman Jeremy Reese (Massillon/Washington).

The Pioneers, who had not trailed at all during the first three games of the tournament, fell behind in both games on Saturday. Ohio Wesleyan took advantage of three Marietta mishaps to jump out to a two-run lead in the top of the second against starter Merryman in the final game.

The Pioneers were on the receiving end of some extra outs in the bottom of the inning, as two Battling Bishop errors led to three runs and gave them their first lead of the day. Reese led off with a walk. Cribbins then reached on a fielder’s choice with Reese safe at second after a throwing error. Freshman Danny Jones (Lima/Shawnee) sacrificed runners up with a bunt. Freshman Kristian DeJeet (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) then walked to load the bases. A double from sophomore Cameron Cimino (Boardman) drove in two. DeJeet also scored on the play when the right fielder mishandled the ball.

Marietta then scored six runs in the third, thanks in part to two more Ohio Wesleyan errors. Reese opened the inning with a single, and Cribbins walked. Jones sacrificed both runners over again. DeJeet followed with a single to center to drive in Reese. Cribbins also scored and DeJeet advanced to third when the ball got by the center fielder. Cimino then reached on a fielder’s choice; DeJeet scored on another throwing error to give Marietta a 6-3 advantage. Senior Ryan Eschbaugh (Marietta) kept the inning going with a single, and then Cimino and he moved up a base on a wild pitch. Piconke walked before Litke delivered a two-run single through the right side. Reese capped the scoring in the third with a RBI single to plate Piconke with the Pioneers’ ninth run of the game.

In the fourth, Jones led off with an infield single. Back-to-back walks by DeJeet and Cimino then loaded the bases for Eschbaugh, who singled home a pair to increase Marietta’s lead to 11-2.

Three more Pioneers scored in the fifth. Cribbins walked with one out. Jones then reached on a bunt single and both runners advanced another base on a throwing error. DeJeet followed by reaching second base on an error by the center fielder. Jones went to third and Cribbins crossed the plate on the play. After Cimino walked, Eschbaugh greeted a new pitcher with a RBI single to center. Piconke then drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to make the score 14-2 in favor of the Etta Express.

Ohio Wesleyan cut into the lead with a two-run sixth, knocking Merryman out of the game in the process. Freshman Joseph Pitrone (Highland Heights/Mayfield) relieved Merryman with no outs in the inning and gave up two singles before getting a double play and a ground out to end the frame with the score 14-4.

Junior Dom Winters (Washington, Pa.) put a stamp on the victory with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the eighth, increasing Marietta’s lead to 15-4.

Sophomore Don Pugliese (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) came in to work the ninth and ignited the celebration by striking out the final batter to secure the 15-4 win and a trip back to the World Series.

Eschbaugh went 4-for-6, Reese was 3-for-5 and Jones had two hits in the victory. Steve Ruygrok went 3-for-4 in the loss for the Battling Bishops.

Sean Ring was the losing pitcher, falling to 8-4. He allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits with four walks in 1 1/3 innings.

Ohio Wesleyan, who collected 13 hits and left 14 on base, led from start to finish in the opener, scoring all seven runs with two outs. Marietta had 10 hits, committed two errors and left 10 runners on base in the loss.

Ohio Wesleyan plated a run in the first off Marietta starter Dave Van Voorhees (Bethesda, Md./Bullis). Joey McDaniel led off with a double. After a pop out, he was thrown out at third on a Kyle Sherman fielder’s choice. Sherman advanced to second on a wild pitch, before Logan Hronis delivered a RBI single up the middle.

The Battling Bishops added to their lead in the fourth, scoring four more runs with two outs. McDaniel had a RBI single, Sherman walked to force in a run and Hronis had a two-run single in the frame as Ohio Wesleyan extended its lead to 5-0.

A one-out home run by junior Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp., Mich./Clintondale), his ninth of the spring, gave Marietta its first run of the game in the sixth.

Ohio Wesleyan got the run back in the top of the seventh, when Donnie Paul led off with a single and scored on a two-out error, giving it a 6-1 advantage.

The Pioneers inched closer on a solo home run from Cimino in the bottom of the seventh. The homer was his second of the year and cut the lead to 6-2.

Marietta threatened again in the eighth, knocking Jones out of the game after Piconke began the inning with a double to right center. Matthew Struble, who replaced Jones, hit junior Tom Doty (Mentor) with the first pitch and then got a strike out. Reese followed with a single to load the bases. Cribbins drove in Piconke with a sacrifice fly, but Struble got out of the inning with another strikeout.

Ohio Wesleyan added an insurance run off Marietta reliever Mark Jackson (Warren/Champion) in the top of the ninth, and Struble shut the door in the bottom of the frame, despite hitting two batters with two outs, to secure the win.

Piconke and Reese both went 3-for-4, while DeJeet was 2-for-4 in the game. McDaniel and Jerrell Johnson were 3-for-5 and Hronis had two hits for Ohio Wesleyan.

Jones (7-2) earned the win, scattering three runs on nine hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter. Struble gave up just one hit and fanned four in two scoreless frames of work.

Van Voorhees suffered the loss to fall to 0-2. He allowed five runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out two in 3 2/3 innings. Junior Derek Cummings (Tuscarawas/Indian Valley) threw 4 1/3 solid frame of long relief. He gave up just one unearned run on four hits, walked one and struck out a pair. Jackson was charged with one run on two hits with one walk in 2/3 innings, while sophomore Pugliese came in to get the final out of the ninth.

All of the action during the Pioneers’ 2007 World Series run will be carried live on WMOA-AM 1490. The broadcasts can also be heard online at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html.