MARIETTA, Ohio — Spalding University scored seven runs in the first inning and never looked back as the Golden Eagles downed Marietta College, 17-1, Monday (Mar. 17) afternoon. Both teams sport identical 9-6 records after today's game.
 
Spalding's first five hitters reached base safely with a pair of walks, a double and two singles. The Golden Eagles collected seven hits in the first and sent 12 batters to the plate in the opening frame.
 
Spalding added two more runs in the second and another in the third for a 10-0 lead. Marietta finally got on the board with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Diego DeCello (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) led off with a double and moved to third on a ground out. He scored on a ground out off the bat of Cael Magill (Atco, N.J./King's Christian).
 
The Golden Eagle onslaught continued with three runs in the fifth and two in the seventh and eighth. Spalding banged out 23 base hits in the game including nine doubles.
 
Thomson Babineau (Scituate, Mass./Calvary Chapel) and Cam Russell (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) each had two hits in the game for the Pioneers. Babineau and DeCello each had a double.
 
Zach Marzetz (Blacklick, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) (1-1) started and was tagged with the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits. Jared Bees (Pittsburgh, Pa./Eden Christian), Matthew Farmer (Amanda, Ohio/Teays Valley), Josh Booth (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro), Alex Dies, and Zach Madan (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Lake Catholic) all threw in relief for the Pioneers.
 
Jake Mueller (4-0) started and got the win for Spalding. He tossed 6.0 innings and allowed one run on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Andrew Harbison, Ethan Murphy, and Will Bastin each three an inning of shutout relief.
 
Marietta plays at Washington and Jefferson College on Wednesday (Mar. 19) at 5:00 p.m.
 
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 X and Instagram.