Etta Express drops an 8-7 decision to host Denison
Big Red use three-run seventh inning to take lead for good

April 2, 2008
GRANVILLE, Ohio — Denison University used a three-run seventh inning to complete its 8-7 comeback victory over visiting Marietta College on Wednesday (April 2) night at Big Red Field. The loss drops the Pioneers' record to 7-12, while the Big Red improved to 15-6.

Marietta trailed 2-0 early in the game, as Denison scored a pair of runs in the third inning of Pioneers starter Jason Baumler (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill).

The Etta Express scored all seven of its runs with two outs on Wednesday. An error helped sophomore Tyler Penwell (Washington Court House), who singled, score and pull Marietta within a run in the fourth. The Pioneers then exploded for five runs in the fifth. Sophomore Danny Jones (Lima/Shawnee) and junior Brennan Cribbins (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) both had doubles, while senior Dom Winters (Washington, Pa.) had a two-run single in the rally.

Denison responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Big Red had three hits and drew two walks against Baumler, left the game with Marietta leading 6-5 after five, allowed nine hits while walking three and striking out three.

Marietta increased its lead to 7-5 in the seventh when senior Tony Piconke (Clinton Township, Mich./Clintondale) singled home Jones, who reached on one of Denison’s five errors in the game.

The Big Red, however, struck for three runs off Pioneer reliever Chris Stewart (Dublin/Dublin Coffman) in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good, 8-7. Denison scored an unearned run on a wild pitch, the tying run on a sacrifice fly and then the winning run on a single by Andy Johnson.

Stewart (1-1) took the loss after giving up three unearned runs on three hits in two innings. He walked one, hit another and fanned a third Big Red hitter. Junior T.J. Knowlton (Greenwich/Mapleton) pitched a scoreless eighth and struck out one.

Aidan Lucas (1-0) earned the win for Denison after holding Marietta scoreless over the final 2 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out one.

Winters (2-for-4), Piconke (2-for-6) and Penwell (2-for-4) combined for six of Marietta’s 11 hits in the loss. Denison finished with 12 hits, including seven by the top three batters in its order.

Marietta will return its focus to the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) when John Carroll University visits Don Schaly Stadium for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday (April 5) afternoon. The action can be heard live locally in Marietta on WMOA-AM 1490 and over the Internet at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html.