KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The #13 Marietta College baseball team wrapped up its spring trip by splitting a doubleheader at Maryville (Tenn.) College on Sunday (March 15) afternoon. The Pioneers fell 6-5 in nine innings before winning 4-0 in the nightcap of the doubleheader that was added this weekend to replace two of the games lost due to rain while the Etta Express was in Texas. The split moved Marietta's record to 5-2, while Maryville improved to 11-8.
The Pioneers trailed 2-0 after the first inning of the opener. Marietta evened the score at 2-2 in the fourth when they plated a pair of runs on a fielder's choice off the bat of sophomore Casey Levens (Dayton/Centerville) (Dayton/Centerville). Seniors Justin Merryman (New Philadelphia/New Philadelphia) (New Philadelphia) and Cameron Cimino (Boardman/Boardman) (Boardman) both singled earlier in the frame and scored on the play, which was aided by a throwing error. The Scots regained the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the frame.
The Etta Express took another short-lived lead in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Britt Meador (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) reached on an error with one out. Senior Brennan Cribbins (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) followed with a pinch-hit triple to right center, driving in Meador to tie the score at 3-3. After junior Matt DeSico (Euclid/Euclid) (Euclid) walked, freshman Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance) (Alliance) plated the Pioneers' fourth run with a sacrifice fly. Sophomore John Snyder (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) then hit Marietta's second triple of the inning to knock in DeSico and give his squad a 5-4 advantage.
Maryville, however, fought back with two runs to tie the score after seven frames and send it into extra innings. The Scots won it in the ninth with a walk-off home run to send it to the 6-5 victory.
Snyder had two of Marietta's eight hits in the loss. Ben Peters went 4-for-4 to pace Maryville, which banged out 14 hits in the win.
T.J. Knowlton (Greenwich/Mapleton) (Greenwich/Mapleton) made his third start of the season and earned his third straight no decision. He allowed three runs on nine hits and fanned five in five innings. Sophomore Mark Williams (Fayetteville/Perry) (Fayetteville/Perry) followed with a scoreless frame before senior Chris Stewart (Dublin/Dublin Coffman) (Dublin/Coffman) was charged with two runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings. Junior Tyler Penwell (Washington Court House/Washington Court House) (Washington Court House) suffered the loss after giving up one run on one hit over the final 1 1/3 innings.
Marietta used a two-run first inning to take early control of the nightcap. Snyder led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Merryman followed with a walk before Cimino loaded the bases with a single through the right side. Snyder then scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Levens. DeSico added to the lead with a RBI single that plated Merryman with the second run of the frame.
The Etta Express added a run in the sixth to extend its lead to 3-0. Cribbins drew a two-out walk. Senior Josh Spicer (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) then drove him home with a double to left. Marietta made it 4-0 an inning later. Junior Danny Jones began the frame with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice by Snyder and scored on a sacrifice fly by Merryman.
The four runs was more than enough for freshman Brian Gasser (New Philadelphia/Indian Valley) (New Philadelphia/Indian Valley), who posted his second victory of the season with a four-hit, complete-game shutout. Gasser (2-0) struck out five and did not walk a hitter in the win.
Jones finished 2-for-3 and four other Pioneers had a hit in the victory.
Marietta returns to action on Wednesday (March 18) afternoon when the Etta Express plays host to La Roche (Pa.) College for a doubleheader at Don Schaly Stadium. First pitch of the home opener is slated for 2 p.m.
