COLUMBUS, Ohio — Capital University upset No. 5 ranked Marietta College by the score of 4-3 Monday (April 12) afternoon at Clowson Field. The nonconference loss drops the Pioneers to 16-2 on the season, while the Crusaders improve to 3-15 overall.
Capital did all of its damage in the fifth inning scoring four runs off of Pioneer starter Sam Mathews. After striking out the first batter of the inning, Mathews allowed three straight singles to load the bases.
A second strikeout had the Pioneers one out away from getting out of the inning unscathed. Capital designated hitter CJ Rockwell worked the count full against Mathews before earning a free pass. The walk drove in CU's first run of the game and was also the first base on balls issued by Mathews all season.
Marietta went to the bullpen and brought in Dalton Wiggins to replace Mathews on the mound. Logan White greeted Wiggins with a single to center field driving in two more runs. Brandon Barnette followed with a double down the left field line scoring Rockwell with the fourth run of the inning. Wiggins struck out the next batter to get out of the inning.
Crusader reliever Curtis Clark, who entered the game in the top of the fifth, stymied the Pioneer offense over the final five innings. Clark (1-1) scattered three hits and allowed one run to earn the win. He walked two and struck out five.
Scott Gutstein started the game for Capital and threw 4.0 innings. He allowed two runs on five hits with three walks.
Marietta got on the board first with a run in the top of the second inning. Damian Yenzi led off with a double to center and moved to third on a wild pitch. Trent Castle plated Yenzi with a ground out to the first baseman.
The Pioneers made it 2-0 when Matthew Busby singled to the shortstop scoring Yenzi who reached on a fielder's choice and moved to third on a double from Castle.
Marietta cut the Crusader lead to one, 4-3, with a run in the seventh. Jared Weiss reached on a fielder's choice. Zach Boyd singled through the right side of the infield advancing Weiss to second. Logan Vietmeier hit a sharp ground ball to short that took a bad hop for a single that allowed Weiss to come around and score.
Clark retired the Pioneers in order in the eighth and ninth innings to secure the upset.
Mathews (2-1) was tagged with the loss. He allowed four runs on six hits in 4.2 innings of work. Mathews walked one and struck out seven. Wiggins pitched 2.1 innings and gave up no runs on three hits. Isaac Danford allowed two hits and struck out one in an inning of relief.
Turner Hill and Castle each had two hits in the game for the Pioneers. Hill, Yenzi and Castle each had a double.
Marietta dives back into Ohio Athletic Conference play this weekend against Baldwin Wallace University. The Pioneers host BW on Saturday (April 17) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader and then travel to Berea on Sunday for another 1 p.m. twin bill.