WOOSTER, Ohio – Marietta College, ranked No. 1 in both national polls, got off the bus Wednesday (April 25) afternoon looking to avenge an early-season loss to the College of Wooster. The Fighting Scots defeated Marietta 6-0 in Port Charlotte, Fla. Back on March 15th. [Box Score]

The Etta Express exacted a measure of revenge with a 15-9 win over the Fighting Scots. The Pioneers improve to 26-5 on the season, while Wooster falls to 21-13.

In a battle of Mideast Region heavyweights Marietta scored early and often, but the Fighting Scots answered the early jabs with a few blows of their own. The Pioneers plated three in the first only to see Wooster score a pair in the bottom of the inning.

The Pioneers loaded the bases with two outs in the opening frame. Junior first baseman #Evan Brockmeier# laced a triple over the right fielder's head scoring three.

Wooster touched up Marietta starting pitcher #Mike Mahaffey (Worthington/Bishop Watterson)# for three consecutive hits in the bottom of the first that resulted in two runs and cut the Pioneer lead to 3-2.

The Etta Express added one run in the second and then exploded for five in the third to take a 9-2 lead.

Designated hitter #Braden Park (Oxford/Talawanda)#, third baseman #Bryan Gregorich (Chardon/Chardon)# and catcher #Alex Toth (Painesville/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin)# each drove in a run in the inning. The big blow came off the bat of right fielder #Jordan Grilliot (Brookville/Northmont)# who blasted a two-run homer over the right field fence. His first round-tripper of the season.

Just when the Pioneer faithful thought they had Wooster on the ropes, the Fighting Scots responded with six runs in the bottom of the third cutting the lead to one, 9-8. Wooster sent 10 hitters to the plate in the inning collecting five base hits and chasing Mahaffey from the game.

Mahaffey went 2.2 innings and was charged with eight runs, all earned, on seven hits. He walked two and struck out three. Senior #Brian Gasser (New Philadelphia/Indian Valley)# took over on the mound for the Pioneers.

Gasser (7-2) would go 2.1 innings and retire seven of the eight Wooster hitters he faced to get the win. Gasser allowed one hit and one walk, while striking out two. Senior #Austin Blaski (Pandora/Gilboa)# relieved Gasser to start the sixth inning.

Blaski pitched three innings and gave up one earned run on two hits. He walked one and struck out four. Senior #Logan Lewis (Nashport/Tri-Valley)# made his team-leading 14th appearance throwing an inning of shutout relief in the ninth.

Marietta added two runs in the fifth and one in each of the sixth and seventh innings to extend its lead to 13-8. The Pioneer pitchers settled down and kept the Scots off the board in the fourth through eighth innings.

Wooster managed a run in its half of the eighth only to watch Grilliot launch his second home run of the game. This one a two-run shot down the leftfield line giving the Pioneers the 15-9 victory.

Four Pioneers collected three hits in the game. Grilliot led the way going 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double and six runs batted in. Gregorich was 3-for-5 with two doubles, while Brockmeier finished 3-for-4 with a triple and four RBI. Saunders notched three hits in five at bats scoring twice and stealing two bases.

Marietta returns home to host St. Vincent tomorrow (April 26) in a 5 p.m. single nine-inning game.