MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader with No. 4 ranked Heidelberg University Saturday (April 11) afternoon. The Student Princes won the first game, 4-2, and the Etta Express rolled to a 13-7 win in the second game.

Marietta is now 13-11 on the season and 4-4 in the OAC. Heidelberg moves to 29-5 overall and 7-3 in conference play.

Heidelberg's Christian Verde launched a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead for the Student Princes. Verde's long ball was one of only four HU hits in the game.

Marietta starter Christian Herstine cruised through the first five innings allowing two hits and one unearned run. The Pioneer ace walked the first two batters in the sixth. Herstine almost escaped unscathed as he retired the next two hitters. However, Verde cashed in the two free passes with his three-run shot over the wall in left center.

Both of MC's runs came in the bottom of the fourth. Tyler Packanik led off with an infield single and Chris Petrucci followed with a double down the left field line. Jake Newton singled up the middle scoring Packanik. Christian Demko hit into a double play that allowed Petrucci to score.

Herstine (2-3) took the loss. He worked 7.0 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits. Herstine walked three and struck out seven. Freshman Corey Whaley threw 2.0 innings of one-hit relief.

Adam Manner (4-0) started and got the win for Heidelberg. Manner gave up two runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out two. Derek Hendrixson notched his seventh save of the season with 2.0 innings of shutout relief.

Packanik and Pertucci each had two hits in the game for the Pioneers.

The Etta Express sent 13 hitters to the plate in the first inning of game two scoring eight runs. Hanahan got things rolling with an RBI double. He would drive in another run in the first with a single as the Pioneers batted around. Doug Bennett smacked a two-run double and Demko plated two more with a single up the middle.

Heidelberg climbed back into the game with two runs in the second and three more in the fourth and trailed just 8-6. A pair of bases loaded walks in the home half of the fourth inning gave the Pioneers a four run lead, 10-6.

Hanahan put the game away with a two-run triple down the right field line in the sixth inning. Marietta scored three times in the inning to push its lead to 13-6.

Freshman Scott Oberhelman (1-0) picked up his first collegiate win in relief of starter Tommy Crowl. Oberhelman worked 2.0 innings and gave up one run on five hits. Crowl threw 4.2 innings and allowed six runs on 11 hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Ian Luttrell tossed the final 2.1 innings giving up one hit.

Heidelberg used six different pitchers in the game. Kyle Fluharty (3-2) started and took the loss as he failed to make it out of the first inning. Fluharty pitched 0.1 of an inning and was charged with eight runs on six hits.

Hanahan led the Pioneer attack with three hits, including a double and triple, and four RBI.  Chris Winpigler, Eric White and Newton had two hits apiece, while Bennett and Demko notched two RBI.

Marietta hosts the University of Mount Union on Sunday (April 12) for a 4:00 p.m. doubleheader.