MARIETTA — Nerves may have played a factor in Marietta's NCAA Division III opener against Ithaca, but the Pioneers found a way to hold on and defeat the Bombers 6-5 on Friday, May 29, at Pioneer Park.
 
The Etta Express (57-5-3) came out confident as the Pioneers scored two runs in the first and two in the second inning.
 
In the first inning, John Schaly led off with a single to center, followed by Jim Pancher's single to left. With one out, Dan Munday singled to right scoring Schaly and then Ken Lisko singled to center scoring Pancher.
 
In the second, Steve Morman led off with a single to center and stole second. Schaly, who went 2-for-4, drove in Morman with a single to right. Schaly stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Ithaca catcher Steve DeMatties. Schaly scored on Pancher's sacrifice fly.
 
However, Marietta committed four errors and starting pitcher Dale Hurst (14-2) walked eight Bombers — both contributed to keeping Ithaca in the game. MC's pitchers gave up a 18 walks over nine innings.
 
Ithaca (27-7-1) cut into the Marietta lead with two runs in the fourth inning on no hits.
 
Jim Barletto led off the inning by reaching first on an error by Lisko at third. Tom Barone walked and they both moved up a base on Bob Adams' sacrifice bunt. Barletto scored an unearned run when Ed Sands grounded out to short.
 
Then Hurst walked Bob Campese, Rick Watts and Tom Pallister, which scored Barone.
 
The Pioneers added two critical runs in the seventh as Jon Shuler singled home Pancher and Shuler also scored on an error by Watts in center.
 
Hurst was lifted for Jerry Bishop in the sixth inning. Bishop tossed two innings and gave up three runs on one hit and five walks. John Burns tossed the final 1 1/3 innings for the save.
 
Marietta's Mark Talarico, Lisko, Pancher and Schaly each had two hits.