MARIETTA, Ohio — No. 2 Marietta College received seven strong innings from junior Mike Mahaffey (Worthington/Bishop Watterson) and produced enough offensive to earn a 4-1 in-region victory over visiting La Roche College Thursday (April 20) evening at Don Schaly Stadium. [Box Score]

The Etta Express remained undefeated in its home ballpark (9-0) and improved to 27-3 on the year. The Redhawks fell to 20-7.

Mahaffey (1-0) scattered one run on four hits, walked two and struck out seven. Sophomore setup man Logan Lewis (Nashport/Tri-Valley) worked a perfect eighth, while junior closer Kyle Lindquist (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) picked up his ninth save to seal the win.

Marietta took a 1-0 lead in the first. Sophomore Jordan Grilliot (Brookville/Northmont) opened the inning with a double. He then scored an unearned on a RBI ground out by senior John Snyder (Altoona, Pa./Altoona).

La Roche evened the scoreboard when a hit batsman came around to score on an Ed Skoneiczny RBI single in the top of the second.

The Etta Express finally broke the tie with a two-run sixth. Sophomore Aaron Hopper (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg) delivered a single to left, which plated Snyder and the go ahead run. Senior Casey Levens (Dayton/Centerville) tacked on a sacrifice fly to stretch the Pioneer lead to 3-1.

Marietta added an insurance run in the eighth when Snyder doubled, stole second and scored after the throw was misplayed by the third baseman.

The Pioneers out hit the Redhawks 8-5 and overcame one error while La Roche had three.

Junior Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance) and sophomore Alex Toth (Painesville/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) both collected a pair of hits for Marietta, while Skoneiczny led La Roche with two hits.

The Pioneers resume Ohio Athletic Conference play at 1 p.m. Saturday (April 23) when they play host to John Carroll University on the 13th annual Community Day. Admission is free and gates open at 11:30 a.m.