MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College baseball teamed began its busy week on the right track with an 11-8 victory over visiting Waynesburg (Pa.) University on Tuesday (April 21) evening at Don Schaly Stadium. The Pioneers (19-10), who will play six games in five days, built an early lead and then held off a late rally to snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 9-2 at home in 2009. With the loss, the Yellow Jackets fell to 15-15 on the season.
Marietta took the early lead with a four-run first inning against Waynesburg. Sophomore Jordan Thompson (Quaker City/Buckeye Trail) (Quaker City/Buckeye Trail), who finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored, singled to left field and senior Cameron Cimino (Boardman/Boardman) (Boardman) walked to start the frame. Junior Chris Beatty (Seven Fields, Pa./Hampton) (Seven Fields, Pa./Hampton), who finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI, followed with a double down the third base line to drive in Thompson. Sophomore Casey Levens (Dayton/Centerville) (Dayton/Centerville) then drilled a three-run shot over the left center field fence for his fourth home run of the season, which gave the Pioneers a 4-0 advantage.
Waynesburg scored its first run in the third when Rob Cool Jr. hit a one-out triple and crossed the plate on a RBI ground out by Anthony Defillippo.
Marietta got that run back in the fourth to extend its lead to 5-1. Freshman Kyle Lindquist (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) reached base on his first career hit, moved to second on a wild pitch and later scored on a RBI single by Cimino.
The Pioneers added their sixth run in the fifth. Junior Dan Jones (Lima/Shawnee) (Lima/Shawnee), who went 2-for-3, hit a one-out triple over the center fielder's head. He then scored on a RBI ground out by sophomore Chris Dowdell (North Ridgeville/Walsh Jesuit) (North Ridgeville/Walsh Jesuit).
Marietta broke the game open with three additional runs in the sixth. Thompson scored on a RBI double by Cimino. Beatty then drove in two more with his seventh home run of the season, a shot over the left field fence, to make it 9-1.
In the seventh, the Yellow Jackets plated an unearned run before the Pioneers added two more of their own to increase their lead to 11-2. Thompson delivered a RBI double, while Beatty drove in his fourth run of the game with a sacrifice fly.
Waynesburg did not go quietly as it scored six runs in the ninth, but Marietta held on for the 11-8 victory.
Senior Chris Stewart (Dublin/Dublin Coffman) (Dublin/Coffman) made his first start of the season and worked five strong innings. The left-hander allowed just one run on four hits and struck out five to improve to 4-1. Lindquist threw the final four innings to earn his second save of the spring. The right-hander allowed seven runs (four earned) on eight hits and matched Stewart with five strikeouts.
Patrick Logan, who played with the Pioneers from 2006-07, suffered the loss after he surrendered six runs on nine hits and walked three in five innings against his one-time teammates. Logan fell to 2-5 on the season.
Marietta out hit Waynesburg 16-12. The Pioneers overcame three errors and left 12 runners on base. The Yellow Jackets made one error and stranded 10 in the loss.
Marietta continues its busy schedule this week with a game at Denison University on Wednesday (April 22). The Pioneers will host Shawnee State University on Thursday (April 23) and Muskingum College on Friday (April 24). First pitch of all three games is slated for 7 p.m. The Etta Express will then welcome Baldwin-Wallace College to Don Schaly Stadium for an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) doubleheader, which starts at 12 p.m. The match ups with the Muskies and Yellow Jackets will be a part of Marietta's annual Alumni Weekend. Fans can listen to all the games on WMOA-AM 1490 and online at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html. Live stats of the home games will be available at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/livestats/xlive.htm.
