GREENVILLE, Pa. — Head Coach
Brian Brewer received stellar pitching performances from two Pioneer freshmen starters, and the Marietta College offense exploded for 24 runs on 27 hits in a doubleheader sweep of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Monday (May 4) afternoon on the campus of Thiel College. The Etta Express won 7-1 and 17-2 to improve to 26-12. The Bobcats fell to 19-19.
Freshman Austin Blaski (Pandora/Gilboa) (Pandora/Gilboa) made the most of his second career start in the pinstripes as he held the Bobcats to just one run on five hits over six innings en route to earning his first victory of the season in game one. Blaski (1-0) walked one and fanned five in the win. Freshman Bill Fullen (Williamsport/Westfall) (Williamsport/Westfall), meanwhile, scattered just two runs on two hits over six innings to earn the win in his first career start in game two. Fullen (1-0) walked two and struck out two in the victory.
Marietta's offense supported Blaski with seven runs on 13 hits in the opener. Freshman right fielder Niko Stanislav (Olmsted Falls/Berea) (Olmsted Falls/Berea) went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a RBI, while senior designated hitter Cameron Cimino (Boardman/Boardman) (Boardman), senior third baseman Brennan Cribbins (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) and freshman shortstop Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance) (Alliance) all added a pair of hits in the win.
The Etta Express wasted no time scoring as it plated a run in the bottom of the first frame. Stanislav led off by reaching on an error. Cimino advanced him to third base with a double to right field. Junior Chris Beatty (Seven Fields, Pa./Hampton) (Seven Fields, Pa./Hampton) then picked up his team-leading 40th RBI of the year with a sacrifice fly to center field, which plated Stanislav and gave Marietta a 1-0 advantage.
The Pioneers added to their lead with a three-run third inning. Once again, Stanislav ignited the offense, this time with a single to right. A Beatty singled moved Stanislav to third base. After a strikeout, Cribbins delivered a two-run double to right field, plating Stanislav and Beatty. Junior Matt DeSico (Euclid/Euclid) (Euclid) then followed with another double to drive in Cribbins and make it 4-0.
Pitt-Greensburg sandwiched two hits around a walk to scored its lone run in the fourth. Marietta extended its lead back to four runs in the fifth. Cribbins hit a one-out single. He then stole second base with two outs and scored on a single to left field by freshman Kyle Lindquist (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne).
The Etta Express capped its scoring in the sixth. Sophomore Jordan Thompson (Quaker City/Buckeye Trail) (Quaker City/Buckeye Trail) opened the frame with a single and stole second base. Stanislav then drove home Thompson with a single to center. Beatty added to his RBI total with his second sacrifice fly later in the inning to stretch the lead to six runs.
Junior Nate Eschbaugh (Marietta/Marietta) (Marietta) worked a scoreless seventh to close the door on a 7-1 victory.
Marietta, who plated 17 runs on 14 hits and took advantage of eight Pitt-Greensburg walks, dominated game two.
Wildness from the Bobcat's pitcher and a pair of errors helped the Pioneers score six runs on just one hit in the second inning. Sophomore Casey Levens (Dayton/Centerville) (Dayton/Centerville) led off with a walk and Saunders followed with a single. Lindquist then reached on an error, allowing Levens to score the first run of the game. Thompson loaded the bases after a pitch hit him. Walks to freshman Kirby Becker (South Euclid/St. Ignatius) (South Euclid/St. Ignatius), Stanislav, Cimino and Levens all plated a run. Stanislav scored the Pioneers' sixth run of the inning on an error.
Marietta batted around again in the third and it extended the lead to 10-0. Thompson, hit by another pitch to start the frame, scored on a Cimino RBI single. Becker walked and crossed the plate on a Beatty sacrifice fly. Levens then drove in Stanislav with a double, and Lindquist pushed across Cribbins with a single.
Pitt-Greensburg scored its first run of the game on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Marietta answered with its 11th run in the bottom of the inning. Senior Josh Spicer (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) delivered a pinch-hit single, driving in junior Dan Jones (Lima/Shawnee) (Lima/Shawnee). Jones had singled earlier in the frame.
Three more runs crossed the plate for the Etta Express in the fifth as it stretched its lead to 14-1. Lindquist singled and scored on a Becker double. Freshman Will Middleton (Johnstown/Johnstown) (Johnstown) added a pinch-hit single and scored on a Jones single. Stanislav picked up the third RBI of the frame on a fielder's choice.
The teams capped the scoring in the sixth when the Bobcats plated one run and the Pioneers answered with three of their own. Spicer singled and scored on a Lindquist double. Sophomore Chris Dowdell (North Ridgeville/Walsh Jesuit) (North Ridgeville/Walsh Jesuit) reached after being hit by a pitch and crossed the plated on a wild pitch. Lindquist then scored the final run on a Becker sacrifice fly. Sophomore Bryce Goldbach (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Township) (Moon Township, Pa.) pitched a perfect seventh, striking out a pair, to seal the 17-2 win.
Lindquist finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI, while Jones added three hits in four at-bats to go along with a run scored and RBI. Both matched a season high with their three hits in the game. Spicer added two hits off the bench for Marietta.
The Pioneers will remain in Greenville, Pa., until Tuesday (May 5) when they take on host Thiel College in a non-conference regional match-up. The two teams are scheduled to play a single, nine-inning game but may switch it to a doubleheader. Action will begin at 12 p.m. Fans can listen to the action locally on WMOA-AM 1490 and online at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html. Live statistics will also be available at http://www.thielathletics.com/custompages/LIVE/xlive.htm.
