MARIETTA, Ohio — No. 20 Marietta College swept a key nonconference doubleheader from No. 12 Case Western Reserve University Sunday (April 29) afternoon at Don Schaly Stadium. The Pioneers won the first game, 6-5, and then took the nightcap, 6-3.

The Etta Express improves to 25-11 on the season. Case Western, the top ranked team in the Mideast Region, falls to 25-9 overall.

Game one ended with a "Balk Off" as Case Western relief pitcher Liam Killingstad was called for a balk with the bases loaded allowing Marietta pinch runner Isaac Danford to score the winning run.

Marietta built a 5-0 lead in the game and starting pitcher Dalton Wiggins cruised through the first six innings. The Spartans finally got to Wiggins in the seventh inning and managed to plate four runs in the frame to even the score, 5-5.

Zach Ward led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a four-pitch walk off of Case reliever Corey Brown. He was lifted for Danford who moved into scoring position when Geoff Snyder dropped down a sac bunt.

Killingstad took over on the mound and got Chris Petrucci out on a ground ball to the shortstop for the second out of the inning. A wild pitch moved Danfrd to third. Killingstad then issued walks to Shane Fetsko and Mike Hale loading the bases.

Freshman Damian Yenzi was the next Pioneer hitter, but he would not get a chance to drive in the winning run as Killingstad was called for the balk scoring Danford.

Kordell Antill (2-1) got the win with 3.0 innings of shutout relief. Antill allowed one base hit, beaned one Case Western batter and struck out four. Wiggins threw 6.0 innings and was charged with five runs on just four base hits. He waked three.

Casey McConihe started on the mound for the Spartans and worked 5.0 innings. He allowed five runs, four earned, on nine hits. McConihe walked three and struck out three. Brown (3-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing one run on one hit. He walked two and struck out three. Killingstad pitched 0.1 innings and walked two.

Hale, Yenzi and freshman Trent Castle each had two hits in the game for Marietta. Hale and Castle had doubles.

Castle was the hero in game two crushing a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the Pioneers ahead of Case Western, 6-3.

The Spartans had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth when Jake Ryan smacked a two-run home to centerfield.

Down one in the bottom of the eighth, Petrucci led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Connor Golden. Petrucci then stole third and scored when the throw sailed into leftfield.

Hale was Marietta's next hitter and he earned a base on balls. Representing the go ahead run, Hale stole second to get into scoring position. Brady Cottom walked bringing Castle to the plate.

Castle lined a 0-1 pitch down the leftfield line that stayed just inside the foul pole for his first career home run. Castle finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles and the thee-run home run.

Ian Luttrell started on the mound for Marietta and threw 6.1 strong innings. He allowed one run on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Michael Barnabei (4-0) got the win after throwing 1.2 innings. He gave up two runs on three hits. Easton Berry earned his second save in as many days striking out two in 1.0 inning of relief.

Ben Murphy started for Case Western and gave up two runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings of work. He walked one and struck out four. Scott Kutschke (4-1) was charged with the loss. He allowed four runs on only one hit. Kutschke walked four and struck out two. Mike Najmowicz retired the only batter he faced.

In addition to Castle's three-hit game, Snyder and Ward each had two hits for the Pioneers.

Marietta travels to Westerville on Saturday (May 5) for a doubleheader at Otterbein University. Game one is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch.