MARIETTA, Ohio — After two lopsided games yesterday, day two of the 2022 Ohio Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament started with an old-fashioned pitcher's duel as top-seeded Marietta College defeated No. 3 seed Baldwin Wallace University, 3-2, Friday (May 13) morning at Pioneer Park.
"I think it was another really well-played game offensively," Marietta head coach Brian Brewer said. "We might have left a few runs out there, mainly based on our approach, but really we played well in all three phases of the game."
The Pioneers, ranked No. 2 nationally, improve to 37-5 on the season and advance into Saturday's championship game. Baldwin Wallace falls to 31-10 on the season. The Yellow Jackets will play the winner of game four, Mount Union versus Otterbein, at 5 p.m. Friday.
Marietta seniors Isaac Danford and Sam Mathews combined to limit Baldwin Wallace to two runs on six hits. The Yellow Jackets entered the day averaging over 10 runs per game.
"I felt pretty good today. I was just trying to fill the zone and get some swings early and be really efficient," Danford said. "It's good that we have Sam to come in in the back half and shut the door. He's always lights out."
Danford started and worked five innings. He allowed one run on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Mathews (4-0) pitched the final four innings for the win. He allowed one unearned run on three hits with a pair of strikeouts.
"I didn't have my greatest stuff," Mathews said. "I was missing a little bit early but was able to correct and get those strikes in there and we got the job done."
Marietta got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Turner Hill led off with a bunt single and moved to third on a double down the right field line from Damian Yenzi. The double was Yenzi's 27th of the season setting the OAC single season record. Drew Holderbach grounded out to short allowing Hill to score the first run of the game.
BW answered right back in the second. Andrew Parker worked a two-out walk. Back-to-back singles from Ryan Guggenheim and Mark Mohickney brought Parker around to score.
After leaving runners in scoring position in the second and third innings, the Pioneers retook the lead with a run in the fourth. Alex Richter led off with a single and was sacrificed into scoring postion by Drew Wilkinson. Hill lined a single up the middle driving in Richter.
Marietta was on the verge of opening the game up when Yenzi followed with a single. But the Yellow Jackets were able to limit the damage when Guggenheim snagged a laser off the bat of Holderbach and then Logan Vietmeier fouled out to end the threat.
Mathews took over for Danford to start the sixth inning. A rare defensive miscue by the Pioneer infield allowed Alex Ludwick to reach base to start the inning. Luke Vonderhaar poked a single through the left side of the infield and then a groundout from Drew Wilson moved both runners into scoring position. Sean Kolenich plated Ludwick with a ground ball to Yenzi at third base.
Brett Carson put the Etta Express in front for good when he smashed a solo home run over the wall in left field in the bottom of the seventh inning. The home run was Carson's ninth of the season.
"I got down 0-2 and just tried to keep my hands back and put it to left field," Carson said about his game winning home run. "I was just lucky that I got to pick us up today."
Mathews retired six of the final seven batters he faced in the final two innings to secure the 3-2 victory.
Wilson (6-2) was tagged with the loss. He pitched the final three innings and gave up one run on four hits with two strikeouts. Nik Baldis started and was pulled after facing four batters. He allowed one run on two hits and walked one in 0.1 innings.
Scott Kirchoff retired the only two batters he faced in the first inning. Dylan Snyder took over to start the second and worked 3.1 innings giving up one run on five hits. He walked four and struck out one. Seve Cantini got the final two outs in the fifth.
Yenzi continues to swing the hot bat for Marietta going 4-for-5 with a double. Hill finished 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Carson had two hits, including the decisive home run.
Vonderhaar was the lone Yellow Jacket with two hits in the game. Vincent Capolupo and Parker each had a double.