PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida — The Etta Express scored in all but two innings as the Pioneers defeated Saint John's University by the score of 8-3 Tuesday (mar. 5) morning in the Snowbird Classic. Marietta improves to 3-4 overall, while the Johnnies fall to 3-3 on the season.

Nick Bonnizzio led off the bottom of the first with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Cael Magill sacrifice bunted but reached base safely when the throw to first got away allowing Bonnizzio to score. When the throw from right field was errant at second base, Magill went to third. Alex Richter plated Magill with a ground out for a 2-0 Pioneer lead.

Saint John's capitalized on two Marietta errors to score three unearned runs in the second inning and grab the lead, 3-2. Blake Mellgren delivered a two-run single to cap the rally.

Austin Ziance had an RBI single in the home half of the second to tie the game, 3-3. Cooper Fiehrer put Marietta in front with an RBI single in the third.

The Pioneer added a run in the fifth, one in the seventh, and two more in the eighth. Nick Kumor drove in Cole Rieman with an infield single in the fifth inning. Fiehrer picked up a second RBI in the seventh with a ground ball in the infield.

Richter laced an RBI triple in the eighth scoring Bonnizzio, who reached on a double. Ben Kaplin drove in Richter with a single through the right side of the infield for an 8-3 Pioneer lead.

Ziance (1-0) picked up his first career win throwing 6.0 innings and allowing three unearned runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out seven. Jacob Rocky recorded his first save of the season working the final 3.0 innings and allowing just two hits and striking out four.

Will Fazio (0-1) started and took the loss. He threw 6.0 innings and was charged with five runs, three earned, on seven hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Quinn Krueger allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits in 2.0 innings of relief.

Rieman went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI to lead the Pioneers. Bonnizzio ha dtwo hits, including a double and scored twice.

Marietta plays No. 13 ranked Misericordia University on Wednesday (Mar. 6) at 11:00 a.m