WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The No. 11 ranked Marietta College baseball team opened Ohio Athletic Conference play with a doubleheader sweep at Otterbein University Saturday (March 22) afternoon. The Etta Express took game one by the score of 10-6 and then completed the sweep with a 4-2 win in game two.

Marietta (11-4 overall, 2-0 OAC) scored 10 runs in the middle three innings to overcome a four-run deficit in the first game. Otterbein (9-6, 0-2) jumped on Pioneer ace Jason Byers scoring four runs in the bottom of the first innings.

Byers (4-0) settled down and held the Cardinals scoreless over the next four innings to give the Marietta offense a chance to get going. Byers worked 6.0 innings and allowed five runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out four.

Freshman Jim Luyster pitched 2.0 innings of relief allowing one unearned run before turning the game over to junior closer Mike Fulton. Fulton tossed the ninth inning to secure the win.

The Pioneers erupted for four runs in the fourth and then added three each in the fifth and sixth innings. Tim McCoy smacked a two-run double and Zach Bukiewicz had a two-run single in the fourth inning.

Cardinal errors in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings proved costly. Four of Marietta's runs were unearned.

Chris Winpigler and Kevin Johnston drove in runs in the fifth innings, while Dylan Gracia plated a run in the sixth with a single up the middle.

Sophomore Nick Muse (0-2) was tagged with the loss in relief of starter Adam Collier. Collier pitched 3.1 innings before leaving with a knee injury. He allowed three runs on two hits. Muse gave up four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work.

McCoy and Bukiewicz each had two hits and two RBI in the game for the Pioneers. Gracia and Josh Ungerbuehler also had two hits in the game.

Sophomore Christian Herstine (3-0) picked up the complete game victory in the nitecap. Herstine scattered four hits and struck out eight while walking one.

Winpigler ripped a double down the right field line scoring Gracia and Mitch Geers in the first inning. Marietta added two unearned runs in the fourth to lead 4-0.

Junior Sean Kettering blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to get the Cardinals on the board. Christian Chiero drove in a run in the fifth to get Otterbein within two, 4-2.

Herstine battled back and didn't allow a hit over the final four frames to secure the victory.

Ungerbuehler and Johnston each collected two hits for the Pioneers, while Winpigler had a double and two RBI.

Marietta plays a single non-conference game at Denison University Tuesday (March 25) at 6:00 p.m.