MARIETTA, Ohio — No. 15 ranked Marietta College started the 2021 season in grand fashion blasting Capital University by the scores of 16-1 and 13-2 Saturday (March 13) afternoon in Ohio Athletic Conference baseball action. The Pioneers are 2-0 overall and 2-0 in the OAC, while Capital is 0-2 on the season and 0-2 in the OAC.

"It was great to get back on the field and play the game. It's just shy of one year since we walked off the field in Florida last year and had our season cut short," Marietta head coach Brian Brewer said. "We played pretty well today in all phases of the game. Two quality starts on the mound, only one error on defense and we swung it pretty well too. It's early and we have plenty of things to work on, but today was a good start to the season."

Marietta scored twice in the bottom of the first and then blew the game open with a six-run fourth inning. The Pioneers added three more in the fifth and five in the sixth as the Etta Express offense collected 18 hits in the game.

Jared Weiss led off the home half of the first inning with a single and Turner Hill followed with a single to center. Third baseman Damian Yenzi single through the left side of the infield scoring Weiss. Hill later scored on a sac fly from Zach Boyd.

Freshman Nate Rentas got things rolling in the fourth inning with a solo shot that cleared the rightfield wall for his first career home run. Brady Cottom added an RBI single later in the rally and Weiss delivered a two-run base hit up the middle.

Cottom smacked a two-run home run off the scoreboard in left-center in the fifth inning.

Weiss finished 3-for-5 with two runs batted in and three runs scored. Cottom went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Hill, Boyd, Drew Holderbach and Trent Castle each had two hits in the game.

Gino Sabatine (1-0) had a strong first outing throwing 8.0 innings and allowing one unearned run on nine hits. He walked two and struck out seven. Michael Reeder struck out one in a perfect inning of relief.

Scott Gutstein (0-1) started and took the loss for Capital. He gave up eight runs, six earned, on 10 hits. Four other Crusaders toed the rubber in relief.

Capital designated hitter CJ Rockwell staked the Crusaders to a 1-0 lead in game two with a solo home run to left field to start the second inning.

The lead was short lived as Marietta answered with a run in the bottom of the second. Weiss led off with a walk and then singles from Hill and Yenzi loaded the bases for Boyd. Boyd drove in Weiss with a sac fly to centerfield.

The Etta Express took the lead with four runs in the third and never trailed the rest of the way. The Pioneers added a run in the fifth, two in the sixth and five more in the eighth.

Marietta collected 19 hits in the game with Hill, Castle, Logan Vietmeier and Drew Wilkinson recording three hits apiece. Boyd added two hits, including a double.

Nicklaus Brown (1-0) started and notched his first win of the season with 7.0 strong innings on the mound. He allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Isaac Danford tossed the final 2.0 innings and allowed one hit, one walk and struck out four.

Tucker Craft (0-1) started on the mound for Capital and was tagged with the loss. He pitched 4.0 innings and was charged with six runs, four earned, on eight hits. He walked one and struck out three.

Marietta travels to Capital Sunday (March 14). First pitch for the OAC doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.