MARIETTA, Ohio — No. 20 ranked Marietta College scored eight unanswered runs to defeat No. 14 Denison University 9-2 Wednesday (March 22) evening at Pioneer Park. The Etta Express improves to 12-5 overall, while Denison slips to 9-4 on the season.
 
As expected in a game between two nationally ranked teams, runs were hard to come by early in the game as neither team scored through the first four innings. Marietta loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, but an inning-ending double play kept the Pioneers off the scoreboard.
 
With Ohio Athletic Conference play starting on Saturday, Pioneer skipper Brian Brewer split the pitching duties between five players today. Zach Marzetz started and worked 2.0 shutout innings striking out three and allowing a pair of hits.
 
Gino Sabatine gave up two runs on four hits in 3.1 innings. He struck out two Big Red hitters. Josh Pedersen (3-2) got the win. He threw two thirds of an inning and gave up no runs on two hits. Jared Bees threw 1.0 and Jacob Rocky pitched the final 2.0 innings. Rocky struck out three.
 
Freshman Will Rettig started on the mound for Denison and threw 5.0 innings giving up one run on five hits. He walked one and struck out three. George Viebrock (3-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up seven runs on six hits in 1.2 innings. Patrick Neenan and Manny Nager threw in relief.
 
Marietta broke the scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kail Hill reached on a one-out single. Following a pop up for the second out, Hill moved into scoring position on a throwing error by Rettig on a pick-off attempt. Nick Bonnizzio followed with an RBI double to left center scoring Hill.
 
Denison answered with two in the top of the sixth. Eric Colaco led off with a single. Colaco was out at second base on a fielder's choice off the bat of Charlie Glennon. Noah Leib singled to center chasing Sabatine from the game.
 
Pedersen got Jake Welsch to fly out for the second out of the inning. Owen Wilson hit a sharp ground ball up the middle that Pioneer shortstop Matthew Busby made a diving stop on to keep a run from scoring but loaded the bases for the Big Red. Josh Bonn followed with a two-run single to left giving Denison a 2-1 lead.
 
The lead was shirt lived as Marietta played three runs in the home half of the frame. Trent Valentine reached on a one-out bunt single and moved to second when the throw at first was wild. Ben Kaplin singled through the left side moving Valentine to third and then Cole Rieman cleared the bases with a triple down the right field line. Cooper Fiehrer drove in Rieman with a sac fly as Marietta reclaimed the lead, 4-2.
 
Marietta put the game away with five more runs in the seventh. Alex Richter reached on a two-out single. Brett Carson singled and Valentine doubled to left center scoring both Richter and Carson.
 
Following an intentional walk issued to Kaplin, Rieman loaded the bases with a bunt single. Fiehrer notched his first career hot with a sharp ground ball through the left side of the infield scoring Valentine and Kaplin. Hill made it 9-2 with an RBI single to center scoring Rieman.
 
Valentine finished the game 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Bonnizzio, Kaplin, Rieman and Hill each had two hits in the game, while Fiehrer drove in three runs.
 
Marietta opens OAC play on Saturday (March 25) when the University of Mount Union visits Pioneer Park. Game one starts at 1:00 p.m.