KANNOPLIS, N.C. — No. 6 ranked Marietta College scored seven runs in the first inning en route to a 13-2, seven-inning, win over Washington and Lee University Saturday (Feb. 25) evening in the D3 Showcase. The Etta Express improves to 2-1 on the season, while the Generals fall to 3-2 overall.
 
The Pioneers sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. Nick Bonnizzio and Trent Valentine singled, and Alex Richter was hit by a pitch loading the bases with no outs. Brett Carson double to left scoring Bonnizzio. Richter got caught between second and third and was put out.
 
Ty Davis followed with a single up the middle driving in Valentine and Carson. Ben Kaplin singled to right and Cole Yeager lined a single up the middle scoring Davis. Austin Amburgey was beaned loading the bases again. Kaplin scored on a passed ball before Braden Shepherd walked to reload the bases.
 
Washington and Lee went to the bullpen lifting starting pitcher John Benner for reliver Ben Sundell. Bonnizzio greeted Sundell with a hot shot through the left side of the infield for his second hit of the inning. Yeager scored on the hit. Valentine grounded out driving in Amburgey and then Richter grounded out to end the inning.
 
Sundell was forced to leave the game in the second inning when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Kaplin. Carson led off the inning with a walk and quickly stole second. Davis dropped down a basehit bunt moving Carson to third. Davis stole second and then Kaplin singled off Sundell scoring Carson. Andrew Flood replaced Sundell and got an inning ending double play.
 
The Generals got on the board in the fourth inning. Campbell Charneco led off with a double to left center and moved to third on a wild pitch. Jacob Jackson plated Charneco with a sac fly. Marietta got out of the inning with a double play.
 
Pioneer starter Kail Hill (1-0) went the distance for the win. He tossed 7.0 innings and gave up two runs on four hits. He walked three and struck out four.
 
Marietta made it 11-1 with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Yeager drove in two runs with a single to right field and Amburgey had the third RBI. Yeager and Amburgey each picked up another RBI in the sixth inning to make the score 13-1.
 
Another sac fly gave the Generals their final run of the game. Jackson and Drew Larsen walked, and Nick Lagges singled to load the bases. Zach Senders flew out to right field plating Jackson.
 
Bonnizzio, Davis and Yeager had three hits apiece for the Pioneers. Yeager drove in four runs. Kaplin finished with two hits.
 
Benner (1-1) was charged with seven runs on six hits in one-third of an inning. Sundell worked 1.0 inning and allowed one run on three hits. Flood worked 4.0 innings giving up five runs on four hits, while John Raymond threw the final two-thirds of an inning.
 
Marietta plays Christopher Newport on Sunday (Feb. 26) at 1:00 p.m.