GREENSBORO, N.C. — No. 6 ranked Lynchburg came from behind to defeat No. 8 Marietta College by the score of 5-4 in 10 innings Saturday (Feb. 24) afternoon. The Etta Express slips to 0-3 on the season, while Lynchburg improves to 4-1 overall.
 
The Hornets scored one run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings. Eddie Gimbel then delivered a walk-of RBI single in the bottom of the tenth for the win.
 
Marietta grabbed the early lead off a solo home run from Alex Richter in the top of the first inning. Lynchburg took advantage of a Pioneer error to score three runs in the second inning. Brandon Garcia smacked an RBI double plating the first run and then the error led to an additional two runs.
 
A Ty Davis RBI double scored Jeremy Tonelli, who reached on a leadoff single, in the top of the third. The Pioneers grabbed the lead with a pair of solo home runs in the seventh. Trent Valentine lined a shot of the scoreboard in right-center and the Richter launched his second homer of the game over the rightfield wall three batters later giving Marietta a 4-3 lead.
 
Lynchburg got a leadoff single from Austin Riney in the ninth. Gimbel pinch ran for Riney and moved into scoring position on a sac bunt. A wild pitch sent him to third. Garcia tied the game with a sac fly scoring Gimbel.
 
In the bottom of the tenth, Ryan Long led off with a walk. Bryce Demory reached on an infield single and a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Gavin Collins was intentionally walked to load the bases. Following a strikeout, Gimbel delivered the game winning hit to left field.
 
Domenic Rowlands (1-0) got the win for Lynchburg. Rowland worked the final two-thirds of the tenth and gave up no runs on one hit with one strikeout. Nick Mattfield started and tossed 4.0 innings allowing two runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
 
Kail Hill started for the Pioneers and threw 6.0 innings giving up three runs, two earned, on three hits. He walked three and struck out one. Forest Havanis threw 2.0 shutout innings. Gabe Torres pitched the ninth and allowed one run on two hits. Jacob Rocky (0-1) worked the tenth and was tagged with the loss allowing one run on two hits.
 
Richter and Valentine led the Pioneer offense with two hits apiece. Richter had the two solo home runs, while Valentine had a double and home run.
 
Demory, O'Kelly McWilliams, and Riley O'Donovan each had two hits for the Hornets.
 
Marietta wraps up the first weekend of the season with a game against No. 2 ranked Salisbury University on Sunday (Feb. 25). First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.