MARIETTA, Ohio — No. 1 ranked Marietta College tied a school and Ohio Athletic Conference record with 11 doubles as the Pioneers buried visiting La Roche University by the score of 31-6 Thursday (March 24) afternoon at Pioneer Park. The Etta Express improves to 13-2 overall, while La Roche falls to 4-8 on the season.
 
Marietta pounded the Redhawk pitchers for 31 runs on 27 base hits, including 17 extra-base hits with 31 runs batted in. The offensive outburst was the most runs, hits and RBI since the Etta Express defeated West Virginia Tech 32-0 in 2003. In that game, Marietta scored 32 runs on 32 base hits and had 31 RBI.
 
The Etta Express batted around in three of the first four innings. Logan Vietmeier started the onslaught with a three-run home run in the first inning. Damian Yenzi and Zach Boyd singled and Vietmeier launched a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left-center for a quick 3-0 Pioneer lead.
 
Marietta sent 16 hitters to the plate in the first inning scoring 11 runs. Boyd hit a three-run double in his second at bat of the frame, while Vietmeier added an RBI single. Brett Carson batted twice in the inning and delivered an RBI triple and a run-scoring double.
 
While the offense was clicking on all cylinders, Gino Sabatine (2-1) was delivering his best pitching performance of the spring. Sabatine started and got the win tossing 5.0 innings and allowing two runs on three hits. He walked two and struck out nine. Trent Valentine, Zach Marzetz and Sam Mathews threw in relief for the Pioneers.
 
Alex Richter doubled and tripled in the second inning. Buy Boyd delivered the big blow with a three-run home run to left field. Marietta scored seven times in the second inning extending the lead to 18-0.
 
La Roche got on the board in the top of the third. Kyle Weitzel reached on a two-out single up the middle. Nathan Stutz followed with a home run over the wall in leftfield.
 
The Redhawks held Marietta scoreless in the third, but the Etta Express rolled to 11 more runs in the fourth.
 
Richter launched a three-run home run to right-center. Later in the inning he smacked a two-run double to the wall in right-center for five RBI in the inning. Vietmeier added to his totals with a two-run double.
 
The Pioneers added a run in the fifth and one more in the sixth before the game was stooped after the top of the seventh. Will Keefe had an RBI single in the fifth and Cole Rieman plated a run in the sixth with a sac fly.
 
Boyd, Vietmeier and Richter drove in six runs each in the game, while Carson collected five RBI. Vietmeier went 4-for-4 with two doubles a home run and five runs scored. Richter was also 4-for-4 with two doubles, a triple and three runs scored. Carson finished 4-for-5 with three doubles, a triple and four runs scored. His three doubles tie the school and OAC record.
 
Tyler Vargon (0-1) started and took the loss for the Redhawks. He was charged with 11 runs on eight hits in 1.0 inning of work. Three other Redhawks toed the rubber. Stutz went 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Marietta opens OAC play on Saturday (March 26) when Ohio Northern University visits Pioneers Park for a 1:00p.m. doubleheader.