MARIETTA, Ohio – The No. 2 ranked Marietta College Pioneers defeated Montclair State University by the score of 5-0 Sunday (March 25) to open the home portion of their schedule. The win improved Pioneer's record to 10-3 and extended their home winning streak to 19 games. Montclair State falls to 6-7 overall. [Box Score]

Junior centerfielder #Aaron Hopper (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg)# doubled to centerfield in the bottom of the first scoring junior leftfielder #Jordan Grilliot (Brookville/Northmont)# and senior shortstop #Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance)# to stake Marietta to an early 2-0 lead. Grilliot walked to lead off the inning and Saunders reached on a single to leftfield.

Those runs would be all the Pioneers need as senior #Brian Gasser (New Philadelphia/Indian Valley)# dominated the Red Hawks. Gasser (3-1) picked up the win with six strong innings of work. He allowed just three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.

Senior #Logan Lewis (Nashport/Tri-Valley)# picked up his first save of the season with three innings of shutout relief. Lewis gave up two hits and struck out two Montclair hitters.

Neither Gasser of Lewis allowed a Red Hawk runner to reach third base in the game.

The Etta Express added two runs in the sixth and another in the seventh. Sophomore right fielder #Matt Moormeier (Chesterland/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin)# led off the sixth with a base hit bunt and advanced to second when the throw got away from the first baseman.

Grilliot followed with another base hit bunt and again Montclair threw the ball away at first base allowing Moormeier to score. Senior second baseman #Kirby Becker (South Euclid/St. Ignatius)# doubled over the right fielder's glove to score Grilliot.

Junior first baseman #Evan Brockmeier# single to center to start the Pioneers' seventh inning. He stole second and came around to score when Grilliot singled to right field.

Grilliot went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored on the day. Saunders and Hopper were each 2-for-4. Hopper drove in a pair of runs.

The Pioneers travel to Delaware, Ohio on Tuesday (March 27) for a 3:30 p.m. single nine-inning game at Ohio Wesleyan University. Marietta's next home game is Wednesday (March 28) against Frostburg State University. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.