MARIETTA, Ohio — Muskingum College scored four unanswered runs after the fifth inning to steal a 6-5 non-conference victory from host Marietta College Friday (April 24) night at Don Schaly Stadium. The Pioneers fell to 20-11, while the Fighting Muskies improved to 19-14.
Marietta out hit Muskingum 11-10 but could not overcome three errors. Five of the Pioneers' hits went for extra bases. Senior Cameron Cimino (Boardman/Boardman) (Boardman) finished 4-for-5 and sophomore Casey Levens (Dayton/Centerville) (Dayton/Centerville) had a pair of hits in the loss. Forest Wright led the Muskies with four hits from the nine-hole.
Muskingum took advantage of some early wildness from Marietta freshman starter Austin Blaski (Pandora/Gilboa) (Pandora/Gilboa), who made his varsity debut, to plate a run in the top of the first inning. The Etta Express answered with a run of its own in its first at-bat. Cimino hit a one-out single. He moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a ground out and then crossed the plate on a two-out double from Levens.
The Fighting Muskies pieced together back-to-back one-out singles and then a sacrifice fly to regain the lead, 2-1, in the second frame. The Pioneers came right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance) (Alliance) drove in junior Tyler Penwell (Washington Court House/Washington Court House) (Washington Court House) with a triple down the right field line. Saunders then scored on a RBI single up the middle by freshman Niko Stanislav (Olmsted Falls/Berea) (Olmsted Falls/Berea). Junior Chris Beatty (Seven Fields, Pa./Hampton) (Seven Fields, Pa./Hampton) plated sophomore Jordan Thompson (Quaker City/Buckeye Trail) (Quaker City/Buckeye Trail), the third run, with a single off the glove of the Muskingum third baseman, and Marietta led 4-2 after two innings.
Blaski found his grove in the third frame and retired nine of the final 10 batters that he faced. The Right-hander scattered two runs on four hits and struck out five in five innings.
Cimino added to the Pioneers' lead with a two-out single through the right side, scoring Stanislav, to extend the advantage to 5-2 in the fourth.
Muskingum pulled within a run, 5-4, with back-to-back two-out, RBI singles up the middle in the top of the sixth against junior Nate Eschbaugh (Marietta/Marietta) (Marietta).
The Fighting Muskies then retook a 6-5 lead after Penwell allowed two runs on one hit and walked four in the top of the eighth.
The Etta Express threatened in its final at-bat but stranded the bases loaded and Muskingum escaped with a 6-5 victory.
Penwell (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in three innings. Todd Spadaro (1-1) picked up the win and Josh Cornwell earned his sixth save.
The Pioneers continue their busy Alumni Weekend on Saturday (April 25) when they play host to Baldwin-Wallace College for an OAC doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. Fans can listen to the games on WMOA-AM 1490 and online at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html. Live stats will be available at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/livestats/xlive.htm.
