GRANVILLE, Ohio — No. 1 ranked Marietta College won a big non-conference game over No. 21 Denison University Tuesday (March 29) evening by the score of 10-1. The Etta Express improves to 16-3 on the season, while Denison falls to 10-5 overall.
 
Senior Gino Sabatine (3-1) had his best outing of the season throwing 5.0 innings and giving up one unearned run on one base hit. He walked two and struck out five. Sam Mathews faced the minimum number of Big Red batters over 4.0 innings to record his sixth save of the season. Mathews allowed one hit and struck out three.
 
Marietta jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second and another in third inning. Trent Castle led off the second with a single to left and moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Brett Carson singles through the left side giving MC runners on the corners.
 
Marietta executed the double steal with Carson sliding safely into second base while Castle scampered home with the first run of the game.
 
Denison starter Will McManaman struck out the next two batters and was poised to get out of the inning with minimal damage. But with two outs, Pioneer All-American outfielder Turner Hill doubled to centerfield scoring Carson.
 
Holderbach led off the third with a double and moved to third on a single from Zach Boyd. Boyd moved up 90-feet on a wild pitch. With two outs, Carson hit a sharp ground ball to the shortstop who bobbled the ball allowing Holderbach to score an unearned run.
 
The Big Red got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Danny Alvarez lined a one-out double down the right field line. Ari Fierer followed with a ground ball to second base that was misplayed allowing Alvarez to score making it 3-1.
 
Marietta got the run right back in the fifth when Carson doubled to right field scoring Castle, who reached on a fielder's choice, all the way from first base.
 
Two more runs in the sixth extended the Pioneer lead to 6-1. Holderbach had an RBI single that score Hill, who reached on a hit to lead off the frame. Logan Vietmeier plated the Pioneers' second run with a ground out that score Damian Yenzi, who reached on a double.
 
Marietta blew the game open with four runs in the top of the ninth. Yenzi picked up an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Holderbach added an RBI single, and Boyd added to his team leading RBI total with a two-run single giving him 32 runs batted in on the season.
 
McManaman (0-1) took the loss for Denison working 2.0 innings and allowing two runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out four. In total, seven Big Red pitchers toed the rubber in the game striking out 10 Pioneers.
 
Hill led the offense going 4-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, one RBI and three stolen bases. Holderbach finished 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Boyd had three hits and two RBI, while Yenzi and Carson had two hits each, including a double.
 
Marietta jumps back into Ohio Athletic Conference play this Saturday (April 2) with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at Capital University.