PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The Marietta College Pioneers scored in each of the second through fifth innings en route to a lopsided 12-2 victory over Montclair State University Tuesday (March 13) morning. The Etta Express, ranked No. 1 in the country, is 6-1 on the season. Montclair falls to 2-5 overall. [Box Score]

The Red Hawks took the early lead with an unearned run in the top of the second inning. Designated hitter Kevin Bond reached on a one-out single and moved to second on a ground out. A dropped fly ball in leftfield allowed Bond to score. Montclair added another run in the seventh after the game was out of reach.

The Pioneers struck right back in the bottom of the inning plating three runs and taking complete control of the game. With two outs, designated hitter #Braden Park (Oxford/Talawanda)# and right fielder #Andrew Coffey (New York, N.Y./Avon Old Farms)# both singled.

Senior second baseman #Kirby Becker (South Euclid/St. Ignatius)# rocketed a ball down the leftfield line for a double scoring both runners. Marietta's final run of the inning scored on an error by the Montclair pitcher on a ball off the bat of #Jordan Grilliot (Brookville/Northmont)#.

Marietta added a run in the third, three in the fourth and exploded for five more in the fifth to take a 12-1 lead.

Third baseman #Bryan Gregorich (Chardon/Chardon)# had an RBI single in the third. #Aaron Hopper (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg)#, #Evan Brockmeier# and #Alex Toth (Painesville/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin)# all drove in a run in the fourth.

Park and Coffey the ball rolling again in the fifth inning with back-to-back singles to start the inning. Becker singled to load the bases with no outs. Grilliot grounded the ball to third but the Red Hawk defender threw the ball away trying to get Park at the plate. Two runs scored on the error.

Following a pitching change, shortstop #Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance)# singled to left scoring Becker. Hopper drove in Grilliot with a sacrifice fly and Brockmeier knocked in Saunders with a single up the middle.

Junior right-hander #Michael Mulvey# made his first start of the season and threw very well. Mulvey (1-0) went 7.0 innings scattering four hits. He allowed two runs, one earned, with no walks and five strikeouts. Freshman #Mackenzie Koehler (Adena/St. Clairsville)# made his debut and pitched 2.0 shutout innings giving up no runs and one walk.

Travis Della Volpe (2-2) took the loss for Montclair. Della Volpe went 4.0 innings and was touched-up for 11 runs, nine earned, on 12 hits. He walked three and had one strikeout. Ian Oates threw 1.0 inning and Pat Golden shutout the Pioneers over the final 3.0 giving up two hits and walking two.

Park and Coffey each had three hits on the day for the Etta Express. Brockmeier went 2-for-5 notching his sixth multiple-hit game of the season. Becker had the Pioneers' lone extra base hit, a double, and went 2-for-4. Brockmeier, Becker and Hopper each had two runs batted in.

The Pioneers play Denison University tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.