WOOSTER, Ohio — No. 8 ranked Wooster overcame six errors and held on to defeat Marietta College by the score of 8-7 Wednesday (March 27) afternoon at Art Murray Field. The Pioneers are now 6-10 overall, while the Fighting Scots improve to 7-4 on the season.
Wooster notched four of their 10 base hits in the bottom of the first inning taking an early 2-0 lead. Marietta answered with four in the third only to see the Scots tie the game in the home half of the frame.
In the Pioneer's third inning rally, Brady Cottom drove in the first run with an RBI double. Mike Hale plated two with a single to center. Hale would later score on a Wooster throwing error.
Wooster took advantage of a Marietta error to score its first run of the third. Designated hitter Dan Harwood tied the game with a solo home run.
The Etta Express reclaimed its lead with an unearned run in the fourth. Seamus Kenneally led off with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. A passed ball allowed Kenneally to move over to third where he scored on a groundout by Drew Holderbach.
The Marietta lead was short-lived as the Scots plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The big blow was a Harwood three-run home run. Wooster made it 8-5 with another run in the seventh.
Marietta rallied in the top of the eighth scoring twice to get within a run, 8-7. Alex Page walked, moved to second on an errant pickoff attempt and then advanced to third on a groundout. He later scored on a wild pitch. Holderbach smacked a two-out triple and was replaced by pinch runner Jared Weiss who ended up scoring on a wild pitch.
The Pioneers managed to get the tying run to third base with two outs in the ninth. But Colin Springer struck out Jonathan Pingree for the save.
John Stover started for Marietta and worked 4.0 innings. He gave up four runs on six hits. Jared Strickler (1-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on three hits in 0.2 innings. Easton Berry threw 2.0 innings and Sam Mathews pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Andrew Hill started for Wooster and went 4.0 innings. He was charged with five runs on four hits. Christian Julius (2-0) tossed 2.0 one-hit, shutout innings for the win. Ben Gbur threw 1.2 innings and Wyatt Linde worked 0.1 innings before turning the ball over to Springer in the ninth. Springer allowed one hit and struck out two.
Damian Yenzi extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a pair singles. Hale drove in two runs, while Cottom had a double and Holderbach a triple.
Harwood led the Scots finishing 3-for-3 with five RBI, two home runs and three runs scored. Harry Witwer-Dukes had two singles.
Marietta hosts Heidelberg University for an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday (March 30). First pitch at Don Schaly Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.