GREENSBORO, North Carolina — No. 15 ranked SUNY Cortland scored seven runs in the third inning as the Red Dragons defeated Marietta College by the score of 11-4 Friday (Feb. 21) afternoon in the season opener for both schools. The Pioneers are playing in the D3 Showcase being hosted by the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
 
The Etta Express jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jeremy Tonelli led off with a walk and then Nick Bonnizzio smacked a two-run home run over the rightfield wall. Will Loftus reached on a triple and scored on a single through the right side off the bat of Diego DeCello.
 
Cortland responded with three runs in the top of the second. Zachary Kringdon and Dylan Tierney singled and Jon Munoz walked to load the bases with no outs. Following a strikeout, Chris Bonacci walked forcing in Kringdon. Luke Schartner followed with a two-run single to left plating Tierney and Munoz and tying the game, 3-3.
 
Marietta almost got out of the third inning unscathed but a dropped third strike and an errant throw to first base extended the Cortland inning. The Red Dragons went on to score seven runs, all with two outs. Schartner had a two-run double, and the big blow was a three-run triple from Adam Mieczkowski.
 
Cortland added an insurance run in the fourth on a sac fly from Bonacci that extended the Dragon lead to 11-3. Marietta plated one run in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI double from Bonnizzio.
 
Matthew Nochowitz (1-0) started and got the win for on the mound for Cortland. He worked 4.0 innings and allowed three runs, all earned, on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Ryan Banks threw 3.0 shutout innings giving up two hits and striking out three. Tommy Lynch worked the final 2.0 innings and was charged with one earned run on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
 
Austin Ziance (0-1) started and took the loss for the Pioneers. Ziance gave up eight runs, three earned, on four hits. He walked five and struck out three. Forrest Havanisallowed three earned runs on five hits in 4.1 innings of work. He walked three and struck out six. Matthew Farmer and Brennan Stobbs each threw in relief.
 
Bonnizzio finished 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and three runs batted in. DeCello collected three hits and drove in one run, while Cael Magill had two hits for the Pioneers.
 
Schartner had two hits, including a double, walked three times and drove in four runs to lead the Red Dragons. Tierney and Nick Marola each had two hits for Cortland.
 
Marietta plays No. 11 ranked Christopher Newport University on Saturday (Feb. 22) at 2:00 p.m.