TIFFIN, Ohio — No. 6 ranked Marietta College hit four straight doubles in the top of the eleventh inning to defeat Heidelberg University 10-7 Saturday (May 8) afternoon in Peaceful Valley. The win salvaged a split as the Student Princes blanked the Pioneers, 3-0, in the first game of the day.
The Etta Express moves to 26-4 overall and 24-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Heidelberg is 19-13-1 on the season and 16-12-1 in conference games. With rain forecasted for tomorrow, the two teams are tentatively scheduled to finish the series at Pioneer Park on Tuesday (May 11). Game time is still to be determined.
In Marietta's half of the eleventh inning
Drew Holderbach (Fairfield, Ohio/Badin) got the rally started with a one-out double down the left field line.
Brady Cottom (Matthews, N.C./Butler) doubled into the left field corner scoring Holderbach.
Trent Valentine (Byesville, Ohio/Cambridge) smacked a double to right plating Cottom.
Trent Castle (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) made it four in a row with a double down the left field line brining in Valentine for a 10-7 MC lead.
Sam Mathews (Fairfield, Ohio/Badin) retired the Student Princes in order in the bottom of the frame to secure the win. Mathews (6-2) threw 4.0 innings of three-hot, shutout relief to get the win. He struck out two.
Dalton Wiggins (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) started the game and gave up four runs on eight hits in 4.0 innings. Wiggins struck out seven.
Griffin Malick (Akron, Ohio/Ellet) was tagged for three runs on a pair of home runs.
Kail Hill (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) worked 2.1 innings without allowing a hit. He walked two and struck out one.
Seven different pitchers toed the rubber for Heidelberg. Ryan Hackworth started and went 2.0 innings giving up two runs on three hits. Cameron Deemer (2-2) was charged with the loss after surrendering three runs on five hits in 1.1 innings.
Marietta led 4-2 until the Student Princes plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. A grand slam from Eric DeVore and a solo home run from Tyler Smith gave Heidelberg a 7-4 lead.
The Etta Express got one run back in the sixth.
Drew Wilkinson (Medina, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) led off with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. A second wild pitch allowed him to score cutting the HU lead to 7-5.
Marietta tied the game in the eighth. Castle reached on a one-out walk. Wilkinson singled moving Castle into scoring position.
Logan Vietmeier (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) pinch hit and singled up the middle scoring Castle.
Turner Hill (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) followed with a base hit plating Wilkinson with the tying run.
Hill finished the game 5-for-6 with a double, two RBI and a pair of stolen bases. Wilkinson had three hits, including a double and scored three times.
In the first game of the day, Ross Thompson (3-2) frustrated the Pioneer offense for 8.0 innings. He allowed just three hits and struck out six. Deemer worked the ninth inning for his fourth save of the season. He allowed one hit but preserved the shutout with three strikeouts.
Gino Sabatine (Alliance, Ohio/West Branch) started on the mound for the Pioneers. He threw 6.0 innings and allowed no runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Mathews got the loss after allowing three runs on five hits in 2.0 innings of work.
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pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
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