MARIETTA — It was the pitcher's duel that D3 fans were expecting.
Otterbein's Kirk McDonald and Marietta's Terry Mulholland battled back-and-forth on the first day of the NCAA Division III World Series at Pioneer Park on Thursday, June 2. In the end, McDonald bested Marietta as the Cardinals won 5-4.
McDonald gave up 10 hits, but only three earned runs and struck out five for the complete-game win. Mulholland (13-2) gave up nine hits and struck out four over eight innings.
The game was scoreless going into the sixth inning. Each team scored a run in the sixth and eighth innings and both added two more in the ninth. The difference was Jeff Jarrett's RBI single in the seventh inning. Jarrett went 2-for-3.
Jim Hoyle went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI, while Mike Goodwin added a single and an RBI.
Eight Pioneers recorded a hit, while John Hefner and Monte Duncan each had two hits. Steve Riley and Jon Shuler each had two RBI for Marietta (45-9). Mark Talarico scored three runs.