PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Freshman Tyler Nieberding won the battle of rookie pitchers as No. 10-ranked Marietta College defeated the College of Wooster by the score of 4-2 Tuesday (March 11) afternoon at the Snowbird Classic.

Wooster (0-3 overall) sent freshman Nick Buckingham to the mound and, even though he was tagged with the loss, he had an impressive collegiate debut. Buckingham overcame some early jitters and went 5.1 innings. He allowed three runs on only four hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Marietta (5-1 overall) scored two runs in the second inning and never trailed in the game. Designated hitter Josh Ungerbuehler led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Catcher Chris Winpigler ripped an RBI single to right scoring Ungerbuehler.

Buckingham threw another wild pitch allowing Winpigler to move into scoring position. Tim McCoy grounded out to the right side moving Winpigler to third. A third wild pitch in the inning scored Winpigler and gave Marietta a 2-0 lead.

The Pioneers added a run in the fifth when third baseman Clint Roche walked and went to second on a Buckingham wild pitch. Back-to-back ground outs from Ryan Hanahan and Zach Bukiewicz plated Roche.

Nieberding (1-0) cruised through the first five innings but ran into trouble in the sixth. Bryan Miller led off with a walk for the Fighting Scots. Zac Mathie doubled to right center scoring Miller. A sharply hit ground ball off the bat of Brendan Taylor resulted in an out but moved Mathie to third base.

Marietta head coach Brian Brewer went to the bullpen and brought in junior Mike Fulton. Fulton struck out the first batter he faced, but a passed ball allowed Mathie to score making it a one run game, 3-2. Fulton ended the Wooster rally with another strikeout.

Nieberding threw 5.1 innings and was charged with two runs, one unearned, on three hits. He walked three and struck out one.

A perfectly executed first and third double steal gave the Etta Express an insurance run in the seventh. Singles from Winpigler and Roche set the Pioneers up with runners on the corners with two outs. Roche broke for second and got in a rundown allowing Winpigler to score Marietta's fourth run of the game.

Fulton was flawless facing the minimum number of Wooster hiiters over the final 3.2 innings to record his first save of the season. He struck out six and has now thrown 8.0 shutout innings of relief in three appearances this spring.

Winpigler and second baseman Christian Demko each collected two hits in the game for Marietta.

Marietta takes Wednesday off before facing Montclair State University on Thursday (March 13) at 11:00 a.m. The Pioneers will be looking to avenge their 5-4 loss to the Redhawks earlier in the week.