NEW CONCORD, Ohio – Senior middle infielders #Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance)# and #Kirby Becker (South Euclid/St. Ignatius)# led a high-powered Marietta College offense in the Pioneers' 16-5 non-conference victory over Muskingum University Saturday (April 28) afternoon. [Box Score]

Saunders, Marietta's shortstop, collected five base hits including a pair of two-run home runs, his third and fourth of the year. The Pioneers' second baseman, Becker reached base safely in all six plate appearances with four hits and two walks. The pair scored nine of MC's 16 runs and drove in six.

The No. 1 ranked Pioneers improve to 28-5 on the season. Muskingum falls to 16-19 overall. Marietta plays a key OAC doubleheader at Baldwin-Wallace on Sunday (April 29). First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Marietta will be looking to secure the top seed in the OAC Tournament, while the Yellow Jackets are fighting for a spot in the tournament field.

Muskingum scored an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers answered with three runs in the top of third for a 3-1 advantage. Marietta added two more in the fourth pushing the score to 5-1.

Becker, Saunders and left fielder #Mitch Geers (West Chester/Lakota East)# loaded the bases with one out in the third inning. Infield ground balls from first baseman #Evan Brockmeier# and designated hitter #Braden Park (Oxford/Talawanda)# plated two runs while a Muskie error accounted for the third.

Saunders' first home run was a blast over the right field fence in the fourth inning. Becker walked and scored on the home run.

Junior #Luke Langdon (Troy/Troy)# (1-1) started on the mound for Marietta and got the win. He pitched three innings as the Pioneers split the game in order to have plenty of pitching at Baldwin-Wallace on Sunday.  Langdon gave up one unearned run on three hits with a walk.

Freshmen #Anthony Knittel (Stout/Portsmouth West)# and #Stephen Bascom (Cincinnati/Indian Hill)# were next on the hill for the Pioneers. Knittel allowed two earned runs on four base hits in two innings of work. He walked two and struck out two. Bascom threw 0.1 and was charged with two earned runs on one hit and two walks.

Muskingum added one run in the fourth and another in the fifth cutting the Pioneer lead to 5-3. After giving up three in the top of the sixth, the Muskies plated two in the bottom half of the inning for an 8-5 deficit.

Marietta put the game out of reach with three runs in the seventh and five more in the eighth. Saunders and center fielder #Aaron Hopper (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg)# hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh, while Becker had a two-run double in the eighth.

Michael Cosgrove (0-2) started and took the loss for Muskingum. He threw 5.2 innings and surrendered eight runs, six earned, on 11 hits. He walked four and struck out two. Three other Muskies took the mound in the game.

Marietta used six pitchers in the game. Brockmeier and freshmen #Mackenzie Koehler (Adena/St. Clairsville)# and #Roman Gammell (London/West Jefferson)# combined to throw the last 3.2 innings. The trio didn't allow a run.

Offensively, Marietta banged out 20 base hits. In addition to Becker and Saunders, Hopper went 3-for-6 with a home run, a double and four runs batted in. Right fielder #Jordan Grilliot (Brookville/Northmont)# and third baseman #Bryan Gregorich (Chardon/Chardon)# each had two hits in the game.