PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida — No. 24 Marietta College lost to No. 23 Webster University by the score of 9-8 in 10 innings Friday (Mar. 8) evening in the Snowbird Classic. The Pioneers fall to 4-6 overall, while Webster improves to 6-3 on the season.
 
Trailing 4-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Etta Express took the lead on a three-run home run off the bat of Cooper Fiehrer. All three runs were unearned thanks to a Gorlok error that prolonged the inning. Cael Magill reached on an infield single and Alex Richter benefitted from an error. Fiehrer launched a home run over the left field wall for a 5-4 Marietta lead.
 
Webster tied the game, 5-5, with a solo home run from RJ Larocco in the top of the eighth. The Gorloks retook the lead with three runs in the ninth. Webster loaded the bases with no outs and pinch hitter AJ Simmons laced a double down the left field line clearing the bases.
 
The Pioneers answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Richter and Ben Kaplin walked and Cole Tieman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tonelli doubled to the wall in right-center scoring two and moving Rieman to third. A wild pitch allowed Rieman to scamper home making it 8-8.
 
Once again Webster grabbed the lead in the top of the tenth. Ben Stedman reached on a one-out triple. Karl Petters drove him in with a sac fly to left.
 
Marietta tried to mount another rally in the bottom of the inning. Trent Valentine reached on a one-out base hit bunt. Richter singled through the right side of the infield moving Valentine into scoring position. But Gorlok reliever Jordan Smevoll struck out the next two batters for the win.
 
Elijah Rompala-Matthews (1-0) got the win in relief. He pitched one-third of an inning and hit one batter and retired the only other he faced. Smevoll recorded his first save pitching 1.0 inning with no runs on two hits with two walks. Ryan Greifelt started and threw 6.2 innings allowing five runs, two earned, on nine hits. He walked two and struck out three.
 
Braden Shepherd started for the Pioneers and gave up three runs on four hits in 6.0 innings. He walked two and struck out five. Jared Bees (0-1) took the loss giving up one run on two hits with two strikeouts in the tenth inning.
 
Richter was 3-for-5 for the Pioneers. Fiehrer had two hits including a double and home run and three RBI. Magill also had two hits in the game.
 
Marietta plays North Central College ay 10:00 a.m. and Kean University at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday (Mar. 9).