WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania — No. 1 ranked Marietta College built an early 8-0 lead and then held on to defeat No. 25 Washington & Jefferson, 8-5, Wednesday (March 16) evening in nonconference baseball action. The Pioneers move to 10-2 on the season, while the Presidents fall to 4-3 overall.
 
Junior Trent Valentine (4-0) turned in his fourth straight quality start on the mound for the Etta Express to get the win. He scattered five hits, walked one and struck out a pair in 5.0 shutout innings of work.
 
While Valentine was blanking the W&J offense, Marietta got things rolling in the top of the first inning. Damian Yenzi was hit by a pitch and immediately came around to score when Drew Holderbach followed with a double to center field. Logan Vietmeier smacked a triple to right plating Holderbach and Zach Boyd drove in Vietmeier with a single for a 3-0 Marietta lead.
 
Holderbach made it 4-0 with an RBI single in the second inning. Turner Hill single to left, moved to second on a ground out and then stole third ahead of Holderbach's infield single.
 
Marietta added two more runs in the fourth and sixth innings for an 8-0 lead. Vietmeier had an RBI single in the fourth and then the Pioneers executed a double steal for the second run of the inning.
 
Vietmeier added another RBI single in the sixth. Marietta's final run scored off a sacrifice fly from Brett Carson.
 
Isaac Danford replaced Valentine on the mound to start the bottom of the sixth inning. Danford walked the first two batters he faced and then surrendered a three-run home run to Evan Sante. Griffin Malick took over for Danford and got out of the sixth without any more damage.
 
Washington & Jefferson cut into the Pioneer lead further in the seventh inning. Malick walked Jason Gregovits and Scout Zaas followed with a two-run home run to get the Presidents within thee, 8-5.
 
When W&J got another runner on base in the seventh, Pioneer head coach Brian Brewer went to his All-American closer, Sam Mathews. Mathews slammed the door shut and picked up his fourth save of the season pitching the final 2.1 innings. He allowed no runs on one hit and struck out one.
 
Henry Litman (1-2) started on the mound for the Presidents and gave up four runs on seven hits in 2.0 innings. Seven other pitchers toed the rubber for Washington & Jefferson.
 
Holderbach and Vietmeier each had three hits in the game for Marietta as the Pioneers finished with 17 hits in the game. Holderbach had a pair of doubles, scored three times, and drove in two. Vietmeier tripled and drove in three runs.
 
Hill, Yenzi, Boyd, Carson and Drew Wilkinson all had two hits in the game.
 
Marietta is scheduled to host Saint Vincent College for a nonconference doubleheader this Saturday (March 19). The first game is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch.