SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Wittenberg University scored two runs in each of the first three innings en route to a 7-3 win over Marietta College Wednesday (Mar. 26) evening. The Pioneers fall to 9-10 overall, while Wittenberg improves to 13-5 on the season.
 
Luke Thomas led off the bottom of the first with a single through the left side of the infield and quickly stole second. Tommy Chilicki drove in Thomas with a single to centerfield. Thatcher Dietz reached on a fielder's choice and eventually scored on an RBI single from Rocco Royer.
 
Drew McKenna (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) cut the Tiger lead in half with a leadoff solo home run in the top of the second inning.
 
Wittenberg plated a pair of runs in the second. Chilicki knocked in his second run of the game and the Tigers scored a second run on a stolen base by Ben Seibert. Marietta pulled off a double steal in the top of the third when Cooper Fiehrer (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) stole second and Cael Magill (Atco, N.J./King's Christian) stole home making it 4-2.
 
The Tigers extended their lead to 6-2 in the third. Parker Gryskevic smacked a solo home run and James MacAuley had an RBI single. Gryskevic added an RBI single in the fourth pushing the Wittenberg lead to 7-2.
 
Brennan Stobbs (Medina, Ohio/Medina) led off the fifth with a double to left center. Following a walk to Bryce Bogan (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick), Jeremy Tonelli (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Magill drove in Stobbs with a sac fly to left making it 7-3.
 
Luke Czarnomski (Medina, Ohio/Medina) (0-1) took the loss. He threw 1.1 innings and gave up three runs on three hits with two strikeouts. Jared Bees (Pittsburgh, Pa./Eden Christian) allowed three runs on four hits, while Matthew Farmer (Amanda, Ohio/Teays Valley) gave up one run on four hits. Zach Madan (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Lake Catholic) pitched the final 3.1 innings and didn't allow a hit.
 
Mickey Eickhoff started for Wittenberg and gave up three runs on three hits in 4.0 innings. Kyle Mahon (3-0) picked up the win tossing 3.0 shutout innings with four strikeouts.
 
Marietta plays at Ohio Northern on Saturday (Mar. 29). The first game is set for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.
 
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.