MARIETTA, Ohio — Senior Cameron Cimino (Boardman/Boardman) (Boardman) slammed a pair of home runs to help the #14 Marietta College baseball team extend its win streak to seven games with a 7-2 and 4-3 sweep of visiting Capital University Monday (March 30) evening at Don Schaly Stadium. With the wins, the Etta Express improved to 12-3 overall and 4-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). The Crusaders dropped to 9-11, 1-3 in league play.

Marietta's offense struck in its first at-bat. Senior Justin Merryman (New Philadelphia/New Philadelphia) (New Philadelphia) shot a one-out double inside the first base bag and into the corner in right field. Cimino, the next hitter, drilled a two-run home run to left center to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. Junior Chris Beatty (Seven Fields, Pa./Hampton) (Seven Fields, Pa./Hampton) then walked. After Capital recorded the second out on a deep fly ball, senior Brennan Cribbins (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) and junior Tyler Penwell (Washington Court House/Washington Court House) (Washington Court House) pieced together back-to-back doubles to plate a run each and extend the lead to 4-0.

Capital plated an unearned run on an Ian Smith sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth to crack the scoreboard and cut Marietta's advantage to three runs, 4-1. The Crusaders added second run on Steven Veenstra sacrifice fly in the fifth.

The Etta Express finally got back on the board in the sixth. Marietta loaded the bases with singles by Penwell, freshman Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance) (Alliance) and junior Danny Jones (Lima/Shawnee). Sophomore John Snyder (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) (Altoona, Pa.) earned a RBI after being hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Cimino drew a bases loaded walk to drive in another run. The third and final run of the inning came across on a Beatty sacrifice fly, stretching Marietta's lead to 7-2.

Senior T.J. Knowlton (Greenwich/Mapleton) (Greenwich/Mapleton) improved to 2-0 with his first complete game victory of the season. The right-hander scattered two runs (one earned) on seven hits and struck out two in the win. Nick Brown (1-3) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and walking three in four frames.

Cimino finished the game 2-for-3 with a game-high three RBI. Penwell and Jones both added a pair of hits in the game. Zach Rigney paced the Crusaders with a pair of hits in the loss.

Marietta out hit Capital 9-7 in the victory. The Pioneers overcame two errors, while the Crusaders had one. Both teams stranded seven runners.

The Etta Express' bats were quiet for the first two innings before plating a run in the third frame of the nightcap. Saunders drew a lead off walk. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jones. Penwell then came through with a RBI single with two outs to drive in Saunders and give Marietta a 1-0 advantage.

Capital answered with an unearned run on a ground out by John Rowen in the top of the fourth to tie the score at 1-1. The Crusaders took a 2-1 lead an inning later with three straight two-out hits. Smith had the RBI with a single to plate Marc St. John. A double by Mike St. John and a triple by Tommy Stevison led to Capital's third run in as many frames.

The Pioneers' bats finally awoke in the sixth. Snyder began the rally with a lead off walk. Merryman singled up the middle two batters later. Cimino then deposited a fastball over the right field fence for his second home run of the day, giving Marietta back the lead 4-3.

With Merryman on the mound, the one-run advantage held up over the final three innings, and Marietta stole the 4-3 victory.

Merryman finished with two of his team's five hits. The Pioneers overcame three errors in the win. Marc St. John and Smith both had three hits in the loss for Capital, which finished with 10 but stranded 12 runners in the game.

Freshman Brian Gasser (New Philadelphia/Indian Valley) (New Philadelphia/Indian Valley) picked up the win after allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits in six innings. He walked one and fanned three. Merryman earned his third save after giving up one hit and striking out four in three frames.

Matt Uy was handed the loss. He allowed four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Josh Belknap came in and shutdown Marietta over the final 2 2/3 frames.

Marietta is back in action on Tuesday (March 31) afternoon when the Pioneers play host to Franklin (Ind.) College for a junior varsity/varsity doubleheader at Don Schaly Stadium. First pitch of the reserve game is slated for 1 p.m. The nine-inning varsity match-up will begin at 4 p.m. Action can be heard online at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html and tracked at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/livestats/xlive.htm.