MARIETTA, Ohio - Three former members of the Etta Express, who played on the 2022 World Series qualifying team, went on to have productive seasons in their grad transfer year for their new respective teams.
Sam Mathews (Fairfield, Ohio/Badin),
Drew Holderbach (Fairfield, Ohio/Badin), and
Logan Vietmeier (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) all decided to transfer after Marietta's tremendous season in 2022, moving to teams in higher divisions within the NCAA.
Mathews transferred to the University of Milwaukee where he made 37 appearances for the Panthers, a Milwaukee record and third place in NCAA Division I. He started the season with 17 scoreless appearances, not allowing a run in his first 15.0 innings pitched. He ended the season with a record of 2-1 and saved two games for the Panthers. He finished with an earned run average of 2.78 in 35.2 inning pitched, striking out 25 batters on the season. His 2.78 ERA was the fifth-best ERA by a reliever in Milwaukee program history.
Holderbach transferred to Rice University and made an immediate impact for the NCAA Division I Owls. The first basemen led Conference USA by handling 501 chances without an error this season. In fact, Holderbach has only committed one error in his last 1398 chances between Rice and Marietta College. He also led the Owls with 56 starts and was third on the team with 57 hits. He hit safely in his first eight games at the D1 level and hit Rice's first home run of the year.
Vietmeier transferred up one level to NCAA Division II Seton Hill University. Before the season, Logan was named the most promising newcomer on the team and did not disappoint. He led Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference with 24 doubles (good for seventh in the nation) and was fourth with 49 runs batted in earning second team All-PSAC honors.
Although all three players had success away from Marietta, Vietmeier was the only one of the trio to experience a deep run in the post season. He also helped lead the Griffins to a 48-13 overall record and 26-2 in PSAC, claiming a conference championship and a DII Regional Championship before getting knocked out the Super Regional by Millersville.
Fans can follow 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.
