FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Sophomores
David Stover (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) and
Shane Fetsko (South Park, Pa./South Park) led the Etta Express to a 6-5 come from behind victory over Neumann University Sunday (Feb. 28) morning in Marietta's final game of the Methodist Diamond Invitational.
Stover threw 4.0 innings of shutout relief, while Fetsko delivered a three-run triple in the seventh inning. Marietta improves to 3-1 on the young season. Neumann drops to 1-3 overall.
The Knights scored a run in the second and third innings and then added three more in the top of the fifth for a 5-2 lead. Marietta's first two runs came on a double from
Joey Begany (Sheffield Village, Ohio/Elyria Catholic) in the second that scored
Michael Barnabei (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central) and
Eric White (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton).
Marietta cut the deficit to 5-3 in the fifth.
Doug Bennett (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) and
Tim McCoy (Willoughby, Ohio/St. Ignatius) started the inning with singles and them moved up 90 feet on a ground out by
Chris Petrucci (Farmington, W.Va./Notre Dame).
Tyler Packanik (Plant City, Fla./Newsome) plated Bennett with a sac fly.
Stover (2-0) took over in the sixth and shut the Knights' offense down. He allowed one hit and struck out two. For the weekend, he threw 7.1 innings and did not allow a run.
McCoy got things going in the seventh for the Express with a single through the left side of the infield. Petrucci followed with a single to right field. Packanik then reached on a fielder's choice but all hands were safe loading the bases for Fetsko. The Pioneers designated hitter cleared the bases with a triple into the right-center gap.
The Knights went to the bullpen and Anthony Stricker managed to get Neumann out of the inning without allowing any more runs.
Stover faced the minimum six batters over the last two innings to complete the comeback for the Pioneers.
Petrucci went 3-for-5, while McCoy and Bennett each had two hits.
Austin Eaton (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) started on the mound for Marietta. Eaton pitched 2.1 innings and gave up two runs on two hits. He walked four and struck out one.
Jacob Baker (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) worked 2.2 innings and gave up three runs on three hits before turning the ball over to Stover.
Marietta is off until next Sunday (March 6) when the Etta Express opens the Florida portion of its schedule. The Pioneers and St. John Fisher College will meet for a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader.
Fans can follow the Etta Express year around at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
