MARIETTA, Ohio — No. 1 ranked Marietta College played home run derby Friday (April 15) afternoon as the Pioneers hit nine home runs in a doubleheader sweep of Heidelberg University. Marietta won game one, 16-4, and then took game two, 10-8.
The Etta Express has now won 13 straight games and stands at 27-3 on the season and 9-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Heidelberg falls to 12-14 overall and 4-6 in the OAC.
Marietta third baseman Damian Yenzi was a one-man wrecking crew going a combined 9-for-10 with four home runs, 12 runs batted in, and seven runs scored. He became the tenth player in program history to hit three home runs in a game with a one-run, a two-run and a three-run home run in the first game. He added his fourth home run of the day in the first inning of game two.
The Pioneers launched seven home runs in the first game tying the school record for home runs in a game. In addition to Yenzi's three round trippers, Drew Holderbach hit two, Alex Page had one and Brett Carson had an inside the park home run.
With the game tied, 2-2, Marietta plated four runs in the fifth, six runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to blow the game open. The Pioneers finished with 16 runs on 18 hits.
Trent Valentine started on the mound for Marietta and was charged with two runs on four hits in 3.2 innings. Isaac Danford (3-1) got the win working 1.2 innings and allowing two runs on one hit. Sam Mathews worked 2.2 shutout innings and Kail Hill pitched the ninth inning striking out two of the three batters he faced.
Ross Thompson (2-3) started and took the loss for Heidelberg. He tossed five innings and gave up six runs, three earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts. Three other Student Princes threw I relief.
Yenzi went 5-for-5 with five runs scored, three home runs, a double and eight RBI. Zach Boyd, Logan Vietmeier and Holderbach each had three hits in the game. Holderbach smacked a pair of home runs and finished with three RBI.
Camden Farley launched a one-out solo home run in the top of the first inning in game two giving Heidelberg its first lead of the day. The Student Princes plated two runs in the frame.
Heidelberg's lead was short-lived as Turner Hill walked to lead off the bottom of the inning and Yenzi followed with his fourth home run of the day evening the score. Holderbach doubled and came around to score on a fielder's choice from Trent Castle for a 3-2 Pioneer lead.
Yenzi made it 4-2 in the second with an RBI single. Hill, who had reached on a bunt single, went to third on Yenzi's hit. The Pioneers executed a perfect double steal with Yenzi taking second and Hill sliding in safely with MC's fifth run.
Heidelberg plated three runs in the top of the third to tie the game, 5-5. Seth Scoville had an RBI single, and Thomas Sauer lined a two-run double down the left field line.
Vietmeier put the Pioneers back in front with an RBI single up the middle in the fourth. Marietta took advantage of a Berg error to plate an unearned run for a 7-5 lead.
Marietta added a run in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to secure the 10-8 win.
Carson started on the mound and allowed five runs on eight hits in 2.2 innings. Griffin Malick (5-0) worked three innings for the win. He gave up one run on four hits. Danford faced one bater and struck him out before turning the ball over to Mathews. Mathews notched his ninth save giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits in three innings.
Brady Knizner (3-4) started and took the loss for Heidelberg. He allowed seven runs, six earned, on 10 hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Jackson Armbrecht allowed one run on three hits in one inning, while Corbin Caplan gave up two runs on five hits in two innings.
Yenzi went 4-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBI. Hill, Vietmeier and Alex Page each had three hits, while Holderbach finished with two base hits.
Marietta hosts the University of Mount Union on Wednesday (April 20). First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.