GRANVILLE, Ohio — No. 2 ranked Denison University defeated Marietta College by the score of 5-2 Thursday (April 25) evening in nonconference baseball action. The Pioneers fall to 17-16 overall, while Denison improves to 30-4 on the season.

The Big Red jumped on top in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run home run from Noah Leib. Denison extended the lead with two more runs in the third. Jake Welsch had an RBI single through the right side of the infield and Owen Wilson plated the second run with a sac fly.

An RBI single from Cade Nowik in the fifth inning gave Denison a 5-0 lead.

Marietta got on the board in the top of the sixth inning. Cael Magill reached base on an error by the Denison first baseman moving into scoring position at second base. Ben Kaplin singled to center scoring Magill. Jeremy Tonelli singled but the Big Red retired the next two batters ending the threat.

Alex Richter led off the top of the eighth with a double down the leftfield line. Magill grounded out moving Richter to third. Kaplin walked and Tonelli followed with an infield single scoring Richter. Once again, the next two Pioneers were retired ending the Marietta rally with two runners left on base.

Marietta got its leadoff batter on in the top of the ninth but couldn't push any runs across the plate and lost 5-2.

With conference doubleheaders on tap for both teams this weekend, pitching by committee was the rule of the day. Marietta used six different pitchers, while Denison sent five pitchers to mound in the game.

Trent Valentine (4-2) started and took the loss for the Pioneers. He worked 1.0 inning and allowed two runs on three hits. Austin Ziance, Forrest Havanis, Sam Johnson, Jared Bees, and Gabe Torres all pitched for the Pioneers.

Peter Lemke started for Denison and tossed 2.0 shutout innings giving up two hits and striking out four. Jack Rollo (3-1) got the win working 3.1 innings and allowing one unearned on two hits. Michael Gray and Ryan Starr threw middle relief before closer George Viebrock earned his fifth save of the season pitching 1.2 hitless innings and striking out two.

Tonelli was the one Pioneer with two hits in the game.

Marietta travels to Heidelberg University on Saturday (April 27) for a 1:00 p.m. Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader. The Pioneers are currently tied with Otterbein for second place in the OAC standings with a 9-5 league record.