BECKLEY, W.Va. – The No. 15-ranked Marietta College baseball team opened the 2014 season with a pair of in-region victories Saturday (March 1). The Pioneers downed Denison University 5-0 and Case Western Reserve University 3-2.

Sophomore Jason Byers (1-0) went the distance on the mound against Denison (0-2). Byers allowed just one Big Red runner into scoring position and didn't allow a runner to reach third base. He scattered four hits and struck out eight, while walking two.

The Pioneers got on the board with two runs in the fourth inning. Mitch Geers and Chris Winpigler reached on singles. Geers stole third and scored on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Josh Ungerbuehler. Ungerbuehler would later score on a base hit by Clint Roche.

Marietta took advantage of a couple Denison defensive miscues and scored an unearned run in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

Connor Murphy (0-1) started on the mound for the Big Red and took the loss. Murphy tossed 6.0 innings and gave up two runs on six hits. He didn't walk a Pioneer hitter and struck out five.

Geers and Winpigler each went 2-for-4 in the game. Geers also stole two bases.

Case Western (5-1) came into the nitecap averaging 14.8 runs per game but was limited to just two runs by the Pioneers. The Spartans jumped on top with a run in the second and another in fourth.

Things could have been much worse for Marietta as the Spartans left five runners on base in the first four innings. Sophomore Christian Herstine started on the mound for the Pioneers and struggled with his control. Herstine walked four and threw four wild pitches in 4.0 innings of work. He allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits.

Junior Mike Fulton came in and shut the Spartans down. Fulton tossed 3.1 innings of shutout relief and allowed the Pioneer bats to get going. Freshman Zak Janus (1-0) went 1.2 innings to get the win. He walked one and struck out two.

Marietta plated a pair of runs in the sixth to tie the game at two. Kevin Johnston worked a lead off walk and Christian Demko followed with a single up the middle. Dylan Gracia sacrificed the runners into scoring position where Tim McCoy drove in Johnston with a fielder's choice and then Geers tied the game with an RBI single to right.

The winning run scored in typical Marietta College fashion. Gracia walked to start the eighth and quickly stole second. McCoy showed bunt as the pitch went in the dirt allowing Gracia to move up on the wild pitch. McCoy then slapped a sac fly to left scoring Gracia with the go ahead run.

John Fortunato went 7.0 strong innings on the mound for Case Western. He allowed two runs on only three hits. Jake Shields (1-1) took the loss. Shields threw 1.0 inning and gave up one run on no hits.

Gracia, Geers and Demko each had a base hit in the game for the Pioneers, while McCoy drove in two runs.

Marietta and Case Western are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Sunday (March 2) at Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m.