KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — In a battle of top-10 ranked teams, No. 10 SUNY Cortland scored a run in the top of the ninth inning to beat No. 8 Marietta College, 6-5, Thursday (Feb. 22) afternoon at Atrium Health Park. Cortland improves to 1-3 on the young season, while the Pioneers fall to 0-1 overall.
 
The Red Dragons struck first taking advantage of a Marietta error to score five runs in the top of the fourth inning. Dylan Mackenzie led off with an infield single and Adam Mieczowski walked. Mitchell Kelly dropped down a sac bunt and reached safely on a Pioneer error loading the bases.
 
Luke Schartner reached on a fielder's choice as Mackenzie was out at the plate. Nick Marola laced a double into the leftfield corner clearing the bases. Chris Bonacci followed with an RBI triple plating Marola. Bonacci scored on a groundout from Nick Chemotti for a 5-0 Cortland lead.
 
Marietta chipped away at the deficit scoring two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and two more in the eighth. Cael Magill led off the fifth with a single and Ben Kaplin walked. Cole Yeager lined a pinch hit double to the wall in right-center scoring Magill and moving Kaplin to third base. Ty Davis followed with a sacrifice fly plating Kaplin.
 
Cole Rieman reached on a one-out single in the sixth. Alex Richter got on base on catcher's interference moving Rieman into scoring position. Kaplin followed with an RBI single to left scoring Rieman. Yeager and Davis each had RBI singles in the eighth inning to even the score, 5-5.
 
Kail Hill took over on the mound for Marietta to start the top of the ninth inning. He quickly retired the first two batters before giving up a single to Bonacci, who stole second base. Hail got Chemotti to strikeout but the third strike got away from the catcher allowing Chemotti to reach base and Bonacci moved over to third. Mat Bruno was intentionally walked to load the bases. Another wild pitch allowed Bonacci to score the winning run.
 
Marietta got its leadoff runner on in the bottom of the ninth but he was thrown out trying to steal second. Following a ground out, Rieman reached on a single to center and was left stranded when Richter lined out to end the game.
 
Tommy Lunch (1-0) got the win in relief for the Red Dragons. We worked 1.0 shutout inning with one strikeout. Nick Jessen started and allowed two runs on two hits in 4.0 innings of work. Justin Patsey got his first save of the season when he retired Richter in the ninth.
 
Trent Valentine started on the mound for Marietta and worked 4.0 innings. He gave up five runs, three earned, on seven hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Forest Havanis threw 4.0 innings and allowed no runs on two hits. Hill (0-1) took the loss allowing one run on one hit with two walks and three strikeouts in 1.0 inning of work.
 
Rieman, Kaplin, Yeager and Davis each had two hits for the Pioneers. Yeager and Davis drove in two runs apiece.
 
Mackenzie went 3-for-5 for Cortland. Bonacci and Chemotti each had two hits.
 
Marietta plays No. 20 Christopher Newport University on Friday (Feb. 23). First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. at First National bank Field in Greensboro, N.C.