BALTIMORE, Md. —
Sam Mathews (Fairfield, Ohio/Badin) threw three and a third innings of no-hit, shutout relief as Marietta College opened the 2020 season with a 2-1 win over No. 20 Johns Hopkins University Friday (Feb. 28) afternoon.
"This was a really good win for us against a quality opponent on the road," Marietta head coach
Brian Brewer said. "Our energy was the most positive thing all day. The guys brought great energy from the time we got off the bus until the last out."
Mathews took over for starter
Justin Aviles (Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood) who scattered two hits over five and two thirds innings of work. Aviles allowed an unearned run and struck out seven, while walking three. Mathews (1-0) walked one and struck out three to get the win.
"Justin did an exceptional job today," Brewer said. "He really commanded his fastball and did a nice job with the breaking ball."
The Etta Express struck first with a run in the top of the first inning.
Damian Yenzi (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) led the game off with a double into the right-center gap. Following a strikeout, back to back singles from
Josh Kieffer (Cheswick, Pa./Fox Chapel Area) and
Drew Holderbach (Fairfield, Ohio/Badin) plated Yenzi.
Johns Hopkins (2-3 overall) tied the game with an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth. Chris Festa reached on a one-out walk and stole second chasing Aviles from the game. Dillon Bowman was the first Blue Jay to face Mathews and he grounded to short but reached on an error that allowed Fest to come around and score.
After giving up the run in the top of the first, Blue Jay starter Kieren Collins settled down and allowed just two more hits over his five innings before turning the game over to Brian Linton. Linton (0-1) would get tagged with the loss after giving up a solo home run to
Seamus Kenneally (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) in the seventh inning for a 2-1 Pioneer lead.
"Overall, defensively we turned a couple big double plays and defended some bunts really well. That was big for us as twice in the game they had first and second with no outs and we didn't let them advance the runners," Brewer said. "Offensively, we played a little better than a 2-1 game shows."
Yenzi finished 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. In addition to Kenneally's home run, Kieffer, Holderbach and
Alex Page (Monroe, Ohio/Monroe) each had a base hit in the win.
Marietta plays Roanoke College Saturday (Feb. 29) at Johns Hopkins. First pitch is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
Fans can follow all the Etta Express all year long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
