MARIETTA, Ohio – The Marietta College Pioneers claimed the 2013 Ohio Athletic Conference regular season baseball title with a doubleheader sweep of Wilmington College Friday (May 3) evening. The No. 9 ranked Etta Express posted identical 14-3 wins in both games.
The Pioneers improve to 27-8 overall and finish the OAC regular season with a 15-3 slate. Wilmington falls to 5-32 overall and 1-17 in the OAC.
Marietta will host the OAC Tournament for the 20th time since the format changed to a four-team double-elimination tournament in 1985. Tournament action begins on Thursday (May 9) at Don Schaly Stadium.
Freshman Jason Byers (6-2) went the distance on the mound for Marietta in game one. After allowing Wilmington to score two in the top of the first inning, Byers settled down and allowed just three hits over the final six innings.
Byers threw 7.0 innings in the complete-game victory. He allowed three runs on six hits. Byers walked three and struck out five.
Marietta scored in each of the first five innings and collected 14 hits in game one. Senior Alex Toth led the way going 3-for-5 with three runs batted in. Fellow seniors Jordan Grilliot, Evan Brockmeier and Aaron Hopper each had two hits in the game.
Billy Foster (1-1) started on the mound for Wilmington and took the loss. Foster lasted 1.2 innings and gave up five runs on five base hits. He was one of four Quaker pitchers to toe the rubber.
Grilliot stayed hot at the plate in the nightcap collecting 4 hits in five at bats. Grilliot had a double, two triples and scored three times. He also drove in a pair of runs.
The Etta Express jumped on top with three runs in the first and added two more in the second for an early 5-1 lead. The Quakers plated two runs in the third to get within two runs, 5-3, but they would get no closer.
Freshman Christian Herstine (2-0) made his second career start and picked up the win. Herstine worked 5.0 innings and surrendered three runs on six hits. He walked two and had one strikeout.
Sophomores Mike Fulton and Anthony Knittel, along with freshman Jordan Carithers, combined to pitch four innings of shutout relief.
Clay Cleaver (0-3) was tagged with the loss after starting the game and throwing 1.1 innings. He allowed five runs on five hits.
In addition to Grilliot's firepower, freshman Tim McCoy went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Sophomores Mitch Geers, Chris Winpigler and Clint Roche each had two hits, while Geers and Winpigler knocked in three runs each.
Marietta hosts Case Western Reserve University Saturday (May 4) for a 12:00 p.m. non-conference doubleheader. Fans can follow the Pioneers all season long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter.