DEMOREST, Ga. – Facing their second top-ten ranked opponent in as many days, the Marietta College baseball team downed No. 7 Piedmont College by the score of 1-0 Saturday (March 17) afternoon. The Pioneers finish their spring southern trip with a 9-3 overall record. The Lions are 14-5. [Box Score]

Piedmont starting pitcher Kevin Caldwell (5-1) kept the Pioneers off balance through the first eight innings. Marietta broke the scoreless tie in the top of the ninth.

With two outs, #Evan Brockmeier# was issued a four-pitch walk and quickly stole second base. #Braden Park (Oxford/Talawanda)# pinch-hit and singled to centerfield scoring Brockmeier with the winning run.

Caldwell went 8.2 innings and allowed one run on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Ed Cook pitched the final 0.1 innings.

Marietta starter #Michael Mulvey# had a strong outing as well but didn't get the decision. Mulvey went 7.0 innings and gave up no runs on five hits. He walked two and had eight strikeouts.

#Austin Blaski (Pandora/Gilboa)# (2-1) came on in relief to start the eighth and got the win. Blaski worked 2.0 innings and allowed one hit. He walked one and struck out three.

Piedmont threatened in the third inning loading the bases, but couldn't get a run across. With two outs, Kyle Davis walked and Josh Bailey reached on an infield single. Curtis Cornett walked to load the bases. Mulvey struck out the cleanup hitter Garrett Lovelace to end the inning.

The Lions loaded the bases again in the eighth. Tate Koons had a lead off single and then Marietta couldn't field the sacrifice bunt by Davis. A second sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third forcing the Pioneers to intentionally walk Cornett loading the bases. Blaski struck out the pinch hitter Kevin D'Antignac and got James Moyer to ground out ending the inning.

Blaski sent the Lions down in order in the bottom of the ninth for his second win of the season.

#Bryan Gregorich (Chardon/Chardon)# went 2-for-3 for the Pioneers, while #Aaron Hopper (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg)# and Park had Marietta's other two hits.

The Pioneers open the home portion of their season on Sunday (March 25). Montclair State University (N.J.) invades Don Schaly Stadium for a 1 p.m. single game.