MARIETTA, Ohio — Junior Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance) hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to propel the #8 Marietta College baseball team to an 8-4 victory in its home opener at the Southeast Ohio Invitational Friday (March 18) inside the friendly confines of Don Schaly Stadium. [Box Score]

With the win, the Pioneers improved to 11-1 overall, while the Scots fell to 14-6. Maryville out hit Marietta 10-9 and both teams committed one error.

Maryville plated a pair of runs in the third. Myles Cordell drove in a teammate with a ground out, while Kyle Cyprysiak added a RBI double.

Cyprysiak drilled a solo home run to right center in the sixth to extend the Scots' advantage to 3-0.

Marietta answered with a solo home run by senior John Snyder (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) to pull back within two runs, 3-1, after six frames.

Sam Waltermyer opened the seventh inning with a single and came around to score when a Pioneer misplayed a ball on another single to boost Maryville's lead back up to three runs, 4-1.

The Etta Express finally got its offense going full throttle in the seventh and took over the lead for good. Senior Casey Levens (Dayton/Centerville) drew a bases loaded walk to plate the first run. Jordan Grilliot (Brookville/Northmont) then drove in a pair of runs with a single through the right side to knot the game at 4-4. Marietta loaded the bases again, before Saunders blasted a pitch over the center field fence for a grand slam to give the Pioneers the 8-4 win.

Sophomore Luke Langdon (Troy/Troy) earned the victory after working one inning. He scattered one run on two hits to improve to 2-0 on the spring.

Senior Mark Williams (Fayetteville/Perry) worked the first six innings. He allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out seven. Junior Kyle Lindquist (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) persevered the win with two scoreless innings.

Snyder and sophomore Evan Brockmeier (Marietta/Marietta) both finished 2-for-3, while Saunders had a game-best four RBI.

Cyprysiak finished 3-for-4, while Nic Baker and Mikee Moore each had two hits in the loss.

Maryville's Robert Brown worked six and two-thirds solid innings but got the no decision after allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits. He walked four and struck out two. Clint Helton took the loss after giving up four unearned runs on three hits in one frame.

Marietta is back in action at 12 p.m. Saturday (March 19) when it continues the Southeast Ohio Invitational against Piedmont College.