MARIETTA, Ohio – The Marietta College baseball team opened Ohio Athletic Conference play with a doubleheader sweep of Ohio Northern University Saturday (March 31) afternoon. The Etta Express extended their winning streak in Don Schaly Stadium to 22 games with 7-3 and 5-4 victories. The sweep also gives Marietta 1,999 wins in the history of the baseball program. [Game One Box] [Game Two Box]

No. 2 ranked Marietta is now 14-3 overall and 2-0 in the OAC. Ohio Northern falls to 6-12 and 0-2 in the conference.

The Pioneers drew first blood in the opener. Senior second baseman #Kirby Becker (South Euclid/St. Ignatius)# led off the inning with a base hit to centerfield. Senior shortstop #Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance)# dropped down a bunt and beat the throw at first for a single. The Polar Bear throw got away allowing Becker and Saunders to move into scoring position. Junior first baseman #Evan Brockmeier# drove in Becker with a groundout to the third baseman.

Ohio Northern didn't shy away from the challenge of playing the defending national champions. The Polar scored three runs in the top of the third to take a 3-1 lead. The runs snapped a 38-inning scoreless streak by the Pioneer pitchers.

Right fielder Dan Belliveau and first baseman Matt Hampshire both had RBI-singles in the inning. Ohio Northern's third run scored on an error by the Pioneers.

The lead was short lived for Ohio Northern as Marietta answered with four in the bottom half of the inning.

Saunders reached on an error to start the rally. Junior centerfielder #Aaron Hopper (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg)# and Brockmeier singled to load the bases. Junior catcher #Alex Toth (Painesville/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin)# ripped a double down the right field line scoring Saunders and Hopper.

Junior third baseman #Bryan Gregorich (Chardon/Chardon)# followed with a single to centerfield plating Brockmeier. A sacrifice fly off the bat of junior designated hitter #Braden Park (Oxford/Talawanda)# allowed Toth to score and gave Marietta a 5-3 lead.

Brockmeier added a two-run single in the fourth inning extending the Pioneer lead to 7-3.

Senior #Austin Blaksi# (4-1) started on the mound for Marietta and got the win. Blaski pitched five innings and gave up three runs, two earned, on four hits, He walked an uncharacteristic five hitters and struck out six. Senior #Logan Lewis (Nashport/Tri-Valley)# allowed four hits over the final two innings with three strikeouts.

Austin Price (1-2) took the loss. Price went three innings and was tagged for all seven runs, three earned, on nine hits. He walked one and had one strikeout. Three other Polar Bears went to the mound.

Saunders, Hopper and Brockmeier all went 2-for-4 in the game. Saunders had a triple and two runs scored, while Brockmeier drove in three runs.

In the second game, Marietta scored four runs in the third and added one more in the fifth for the win.

In the third inning, Becker drove in the Pioneers' first run with a single up the middle. Hopper drove a double down the leftfield line to plate another run and then Brockmeier plated two with a single to leftfield.

Ohio Northern catcher Cory Martin blasted a grand slam over the leftfield fence in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 4-4. A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases for Martin.

Saunders manufactured the winning run in the fifth inning. He reached on a one-out walk and quickly stole second base. Saunders moved over to third on a ground out and then scored on a throwing error by the Polar Bear third baseman.

Senior #Brian Gasser (New Philadelphia/Indian Valley)# (4-1) threw six innings in the winning effort. Gasser allowed four runs, all earned, on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Senior #Kyle Lindquist (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne)# picked up his second save of the season with three innings of shutout relief. Lindquist allowed just one base runner on a two-out single in the ninth.

Becker was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Pioneers. Brockmeier drove in two runs and Hopper had a double and an RBI.

The Pioneers will go for the historic 2,000th program win on Tuesday (April 3) when Mount Union comes to Schaly Stadium for a 4 p.m. doubleheader.