PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida — In a battle of nationally ranked opponents, No. 21 College of Wooster out slugged No. 15 Marietta College by the score of 13-12 Saturday (March 14) afternoon at the Snowbird Classic. The Fighting Scots improve to 3-3 on the season, while Marietta drops to 9-2 overall.

"We dug ourselves too big of a hole against a quality opponent like Wooster," Marietta head coach Brian Brewer said. "Give our guys credit. We fought our back into the game and had some chances to grab the lead."

Marietta jumped on top with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Seamus Kenneally reached on a one-out single and moved to second on a base hit from Alex Page. Tate Engle was hit by a pitch loading the bases. Drew Holderbach lined out to left, but Kenneally was able to tag and score on the sac fly.

Wooster scored in each of the next four innings, including a five-run fourth inning, to build an 8-1 lead. The Scots chased Marietta starting pitcher John Stover in that fourth inning rally.

Stover (0-1) took the loss after allowing six runs, five earned, on six hits in three and two-thirds innings. He walked five and struck out five. Luke Fisher, Jared Strickler, Trent Castle, Trent Valentine, Griffin Malick and Dylan Albright all threw in relief for the Pioneers.

The Etta Express got rolling in the home half of the sixth inning and plated six runs to get within a run, 8-7. Josh Kieffer had a pinch-hit RBI single to get the rally going. Logan Vietmeier drove in the next run with a sac fly. Isaac Danford smacked a two-run single, while Jacob Thieman and Damian Yenzi added run-scoring doubles.

Wooster starter Evan Faxon (2-0) was knocked out in the sixth. He was credited with the win after giving up six runs on six hits in five and two-thirds innings. He walked one and struck out one.

The Scots answered back with five runs in the top of the seventh pushing their lead to five, 13-8. Wooster finished with 20 hits in the game.

Engle and Holderbach both got hit by pitches to start the Marietta seventh. Kieffer ripped a double to left center scoring Engle. Following a strikeout, Danford walked to load the bases and then pinch hitter Jared Weiss was beaned forcing in Holderbach. A sac fly off the bat of Yenzi scored Kieffer and cut the lead to 13-10.

Albright down Wooster over the final two innings. He allowed one hit and struck out one keeping the Pioneers within striking distance heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Danford reach on a one-out single. Following a strikeout. Yenzi hit a deep flyball to left center. The Wooster centerfielder lost the ball in the sun as the ball caromed off is head and past the left fielder. Danford scored easily and Yenzi was able to circle the bases for an inside the park home run. Wooster reliever Michael Klingensmith got the next Pioneer out to preserve the 13-12 victory. Klingensmith earned his first save of the season after throwing two and two-thirds innings. He gave up two runs on two hits with three strikeouts.

Danford finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Yenzi, Page and Kiefer each had two hits for the Pioneers. Yenzi drove in four runs, while Kieffer scored two and knocked in two more.

Marietta will finish its shortened season Sunday (March 15) with a noon game against Susquehanna University.