MARIETTA, Ohio — Brady Cottom lined a two-out, two-run double to left center in the bottom of the eighth inning giving Marietta College a 10-9 non-conference win over rival Muskingum University Wednesday (May 1) evening at Don Schaly Stadium. The Pioneers move to 18-19 on the season, while the Muskies fall to 11-24 overall.
Cottom's double capped a three-run inning for the Etta Express that turned a 9-7 deficit into the one-run victory. A costly error by the Muskies, one of six they committed in the game, got the Marietta rally started.
Greg Peffley pinch hit and popped up in the infield, but Muskingum's third baseman dropped the ball. Hustling out of the batter's box, Peffley made it to second base on the misplay. Peffley was lifted for pinch runner Trent Castle.
Following a strikeout, Mike Hale walked. Drew Holderbach then hit a ground ball back to the pitcher who retired Hale at second base on the attempted double play. The relay throw to first was wild allowing Castle to score and Holderbach moved into scoring position at second base. Eddie Poster got hit by a pitch giving the Pioneers runners at first and second and Cottom followed with the game-winning double scoring both runners.
Marietta jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. The Pioneers took advantage of two Muskie errors in the first inning to score a pair of unearned runs. Hale made it 3-0 with a solo home run in the third. It was his fifth on the season.
Muskingum answered with two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth. The lead went back and forth as the Pioneers plated two in the fifth and another in the sixth. Once again the Muskies responded scoring two runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth for a 9-7 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Gino Sabatine started on the mound for Marietta and threw 3.0 shutout innings. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out one. With a key conference doubleheader this weekend, the Pioneers used seven pitchers in the game.
Brenden Lacorato (3-0) got the win. He worked 1.0 inning with one walk and two strikeouts. CJ Kenworthy picked up his second straight save tossing the ninth inning. He gave up one hit and struck out two.
Brett Carson got the start for the Muskies and worked 5.0 innings. He allowed five runs, two earned, on eight hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Michael Pagano threw 1.1 innings and gave up two runs on two hits. Will Maier (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing three unearned runs on one hit. He walked one and struck out two.
Alex Page went 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI for the Pioneers. Hale. Cottom and Drew Wilkinson each had two hits in the game. Cottom had a double and finished with three runs batted in.
Marietta finishes the regular season on Saturday (May 4) when the Pioneers host Otterbein University for an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.