WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Marietta College Pioneers claimed the 2012 Ohio Athletic Conference regular season title with a doubleheader sweep at Wilmington College Friday (May 4) afternoon. The No. 1 ranked Etta Express blanked the Quakers 11-0 in the first game and won game two by the score of 12-5. [Game One Box] [Game Two Box]

The Pioneers improve to 32-5 overall and finish the OAC regular season with a 16-2 slate. Wilmington finished the season 7-27 overall and 3-15 in the OAC.

Marietta will host the OAC Tournament for the 19th time since the format changed to a four-team double-elimination tournament in 1985. Tournament action begins on Thursday (May 10) at Don Schaly Stadium.

Senior #Austin Blaski (Pandora/Gilboa)# (9-1) scattered four hits in a complete-game shutout in the first game of the day. Blaski went seven innings and struck out eight with three walks.

Marietta jumped on top in the first inning. Senior second baseman #Kirby Becker (South Euclid/St. Ignatius)# reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on an error. Becker moved over to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by senior shortstop #Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance)#.

The Pioneers added an unearned run in the fourth when junior third baseman #Bryan Gregorich (Chardon/Chardon)# doubled to right center scoring freshman designated hitter #Mitch Geers (West Chester/Lakota East)#, who reached on an error.

The Etta Express blew the game open with four runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth to take a 10-0 lead.

In the fifth, Marietta loaded the bases with no outs and junior center fielder #Aaron Hopper (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg)# quickly cleared the bases with a three-run double into the left center gap. Geers delivered a two-run single in the sixth.

Senior Jared Ramsey (0-5) took the loss for Wilmington. Ramsey pitched five innings and was charged with seven runs, six earned, on six base hits. He walked five and struck out one. Fellow seniors Brandon Compton and Jake Hofer each threw an inning of relief.

Becker led the Pioneer attack going 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. Saunders was 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored, two runs batted in and a pair of stolen bases. Hopper had three runs bated in, while Geers and Brockmeier each knocked in two.

Marietta again took the early lead in the nitecap plating a run in the first and another in the third. Junior designated hitter #Braden Park (Oxford/Talawanda)# had run-scoring singles in both innings.

In the first, Becker reached on a walk and moved to second on a single by Hopper before Park drove him in. Saunders reached on a single in the third and promptly stole second and third. Saunders then scored on Park's base hit.

The Quakers battle back and took the lead, 4-2, with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Wilmington took advantage of some rare wildness on the part of Marietta starter #Brian Gasser (New Philadelphia/Indian Valley)#.

Left fielder Brandon Arehart led off the inning with a single. Back to back walks loaded the bases with no outs for the Quakers. Catcher Brett McEvoy excecuted the squeeze bunt to perfection scoring Arehart. Wilmington added three more runs on a two more walks, a hit batsman and a wild pitch chasing Gasser from the mound.

Gasser went 3.2 innings and allowed four earned runs on just one hit. He walked six and struck out two.

Marietta answered right back with four runs in the fifth. The Pioneers loaded the bases with one out went Hopper and Park singled and Brockmeier was hit by a pitch. Gregorich then singled to right scoring Hopper.

A wild pitch scored Park and the catcher's throw got away at the plate allowing Brockmeier to score. Gregorich would eventually score on a balk giving Marietta a 6-4 lead.

RBI's from Brockmeier, Gregorich and sophomore left fielder #Zach Bukiewicz (Minford/Lucasville Valley)# in the sixth inning extended the Pioneer lead to 9-4. Junior right fielder #Jordan Grilliot (Brookville/Northmont)# added a three-run triple in the eighth inning pushing the lead to 12-4.

Quaker senior shortstop Austin Newman ended his career in grand fashion with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning.

Senior #Logan Lewis (Nashport/Tri-Valley)# (5-0) got the win in relief for the Pioneers. Lewis threw 1.1 innings and retired all four batters he faced.

Junior #Luke Langdon (Troy/Troy)# tossed two innings of shutout relief and gave up one hit. Freshman #Anthony Knittel (Stout/Portsmouth West)# threw the final two innings and allowed one run on one hit with a walk and a strikeout.

Junior Hunter Justus (2-7) took the loss. Justus pitched 4.1 innings and gave up six earned runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Junior Jake Vinkovich threw 2.2 innings and was charged with five earned runs on five base hits. He walked four and struck out one. Freshman Troy Wagner allowed one run on two hits over the last two innings.

Park went 5-for-5 with a double and two runs batted in to lead the Pioneer offense. Saunders, Hopper, Gregorich and Bukiewicz each had two hits for Marietta.

The Pioneers are back in action Saturday (May 4) with a 5 p.m. non-conference doubleheader with La Roche (Pa.) at Don Schaly Stadium.