MARIETTA, Ohio — Sam Mathews saved both games of Marietta College's Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep of Mount Union Wednesday (April 20) afternoon. The No. ranked Pioneers won 4-1 and 6-5 improving to 29-3 on the season and 11-1 in the OAC. The Purple Raiders fall to 17-10 overall and 8-4 in the OAC.
The saves were the ninth and tenth of the season for Mathews and tied him with Kyle Lindquist for Marietta's career record of 28 saves. Mathews is also closing in on Lindquist's single season record of 12 saves.
Mount Union grabbed the early lead in game one. Zack Mazza reached on a two-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Nate Duliba singled through the left side of the infield scoring Mazza. Duliba was picked off at first base to end the inning.
Marietta manufactured a run in the fourth. Drew Holderbach walked and was sacrificed to second by Brett Carson. Following a walk to Trent Castle, Alex Richter smacked an RBI single to center scoring Holderback.
The Pioneers plated three runs in the fifth for a 4-1 lead. Turner Hill led off with a single. Damian Yenzi singled through the left side of the infield and Zach Boyd followed with a single through the right side scoring Hill.
Logan Vietmeier sacrificed Yenzi to third and Boyd to second. Holderbach laced a single to right scoring Yenzi and Boyd for a 4-1 lead.
Trent Valentine (9-0) started on the mound for Marietta and got the win. He threw seven innings and allowed one run on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Mathews worked the final two innings for the save. He waked two and struck out two.
Hill, Yenzi, Boyd, Holderbach and Richter each had two hits in the game for the Pioneers.
In game two, Marietta scored two runs in the first and three more in the second inning. The Pioneers never trailed in the 6-5 victory.
Hill led off the first inning with a single and scored on a double from Yenzi. Yenzi moved to third on a ground out and scored on a Holderbach fielder's choice.
Castle started the second inning with a walk. Richter lined a triple down the rightfield line scoring Castle. Richter scored on a sac fly from Hill. Yenzi added a solo home run pushing the MC lead to 5-0.
Mount Union erased the Pioneer lead with a grand slam from Thomas Gallant to get within one run, 5-4.
The Pioneers added an insurance run in the fourth when Castle led off with a walk. Richter singled up the middle. Busby sacrificed Castle to third and Richter to second. Hill picked up an RBI with a ground out scoring Castle.
Mount Union responded with a run in the fifth to make it 6-5.
Gino Sabatine started for Marietta and worked three innings allowing four runs on two hits. Isaac Danford (4-1) got the win allowing one unearned run on two hits in four innings. Mathews gave up no runs on one hit for the save.
Dwayne Sumler (3-1) started and took the loss for Mount Union, He worked two innings and gave up five runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Ryan Osman tossed six strong innings and gave up one run on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
Richter finished 3-for-4 with a triple. Yenzi had two hits including a double and a home run and drove in two runs. Hill also picked up two RBI.
Marietta plays at John Carroll University on Saturday (April 23). Game one is slated or a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.