PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida — Marietta College played two games on its final day in Florida and it was feast or famine for the Pioneers on Saturday (Mar. 9). The Pioneers lost to North Central College by the score of 1-0 and then turned around and beat Kean University 34-12 in game two. Marietta heads home with a 5-7 overall record.
North Central (3-4 overall) starting pitcher AJ Kutcher (1-2) threw 7.0 strong innings allowing a pair of singles with one walk and six strikeouts. Three other Cardinals combined to pitch the final 2.0 innings with Luke Lehnen earning the save.
The Cardinals scored their only run in the sixth inning when Trey Roach led off with a walk. Pioneer starter
Kail Hill (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) struck out the next two batters. Roach stole second and then moved to third on an infield single from Jackson Bland that Hill got a hand on. Michael Davis followed with a seeing eye single through the left side of the infield driving in Roach with the winning run.
Marietta got two runners on in the ninth but couldn't push a run across.
Cooper Fiehrer (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) reached on a one-out single.
Cole Rieman (West Chester, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller) dropped a single into right field moving Fiehrer to third. However, the next two Pioneer hitters were retired on fly balls to end the game.
Hill (0-2) worked 5.2 innings and allowed one run on seven hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
Zach Marzetz (Blacklick, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) pitched 2.1 innings and gave up one hit and struck out three.
Rieman was the one Pioneer with two hits in the game.
In the second game of the day, Marietta batted around in three of the first four innings. The Pioneers plated five runs in the first, nine in the second and four more in the fourth. The Etta Express had another nine-run inning in the sixth and then added five more in the seventh.
The Pioneers collected 24 hits in the game and also benefited from seven walks and 10 batters were hit by pitches. Marietta hit three home runs in the sixth inning.
Nick Kumor (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) smacked a solo homer,
Trent Valentine (Byesville, Ohio/Cambridge) launched a grand slam, and
Austin Amburgey (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) ended the nine-run rally with a solo shot.
Eight of Marietta's nine offensive starters had multiple hits in the game. Fiehrer went 4-for-4 and reached base safely all six times he went to the plate. He scored five times and drove in four runs. Kumor finished 4-for-5 with four RBI, while
Ben Kaplin (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) had three hits and two RBI.
Rieman, Valentine,
Alex Richter (Carmel, Ind./Carmel),
Shane Rothlisberger (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston), and
Cole Yeager (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) each had two hits in the game. Valentine drove in eight runs, while Yeager finished with four RBI.
Austin Ziance (Highland Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) started on the mound for Marietta and threw 4.1 innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
Forrest Havanis (Washington, Pa./Trinity) (1-1) picked up the win with 2.0 shutout innings of hitless relief. Havanis struck out four.
Jason Gilman (1-1) started and took the loss. He was charged with five runs on three hits in 1.0 inning. Five other Cougars toed the rubber in the game.
Marietta returns home to host the BSN Sports Invitational. The Pioneers play their home opener against Johnson & Wales University on Friday (Mar. 15) at 11:00 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 X and Instagram.
