ALLIANCE, Ohio — Mount Union right fielder Nate Owen made a game-saving diving catch with his back to the infield at the wall for the final out as the Purple Raiders beat Marietta College, 7-5, Friday (May 12) afternoon in the 2017 Ohio Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament.
With runners at first and second base, Marietta would have tied the game and had the go ahead run at third base if Owen doesn't make the spectacular play to end the game.
The loss ends Marietta's season with a 22-18 record. No. 24 Mount Union improves to 31-10 and advances into Saturday's championship. The Purple Raiders will need to beat Otterbein twice on Saturday to claim the OAC Tournament crown.
The game was a back and forth affair through the first five innings. Marietta scored one in the first, two in the third and two more in the fifth inning. Mount Union plated two in the first and three in the third.
Mount Union took the lead with a run in the sixth and then added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh.
Scott Oberhelman (Washington Twp., N.J./Old Tappan) started on the mound for the Pioneers and threw 2.0 innings. Oberhelman allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out two.
Kordell Antill (Woodsfield, Ohio/Monroe Central) (4-2) came on and worked 4.0 innings. Antill gave up two runs on nine hits and was tagged with the loss.
Tommy Crowl (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day) threw the final 2.0 innings and allowed a pair of base hits.
Mitch McCristall started and went 4.2 innings for the Raiders. He was charged with five runs on nine hits. McCristall walked two and struck out one. Beau Taylor (3-1) tossed 4.1 shutout innings of relief for the win. He gave up three hits and one walk with a pair of strikeouts.
Billy Goodall was a one man wrecking crew for Mount Union. Goodall tied an OAC Tournament record with five base hits in the game. He went 5-for-5 with a double, a triple and three runs batted in and two runs scored.
Hale led the Pioneer offense going 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Petrucci and
Michael Barnabei (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central) had two hits apiece, while Golden drove in a pair of runs.
Marietta will say goodbye to eight seniors: catchers
Eric White (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) and
Tanner Wood (Athens, Ohio/Athens), designated hitter
Joe Gardner (Armada, Mich./Romeo) and pitchers Antill, Crowl,
Zak Janus (Kent, Ohio/Roosevelt),
Mitch McNabb (Grove City, Ohio/Bishop Ready) and
Tyler Nieberding (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder).
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.
