MARIETTA, Ohio — The University of Mount Union swept a pair of games from Marietta College Saturday (Mar. 22) evening in the Ohio Athletic Conference opener for both schools. The Purple Raiders won game one, 7-2, and then took game two, 9-2.
 
Marietta falls to 9-9 on the season and 0-2 in the OAC. Mount Union improves to 8-6 overall and 2-0 in the OAC.
 
The Purple Raiders used one big inning in each game to sweep the doubleheader. In the first game, Mount Union broke a 2-2 tie with four runs in the top of the eighth inning. In the nightcap, the Raiders scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning breaking the game open.
 
Jaired Lehman and Daniel Tome each had RBI singles in the top of the first inning of game one to give Mount Union a 2-0 lead. The Pioneers tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Caden Hall and Drew McKenna each drove in a run with singles up the middle.
 
Mount Union took control of the game with four runs in the eighth. Luke Ickes plated a run with an RBI single. Brycen Fox lined a two-2un double to the wall in centerfield, and Chris Viamonte had a single up the middle driving in the fourth run. Chris Tsouras had an RBI triple in the ninth making it 7-2 in favor of the Purple Raiders.
 
Brady Hansen (2-1) got the win throwing 2.2 innings of shutout relief. He allowed just one hit, walked two and struck out one. Zachary Breeden started and allowed two runs on six hits in 6.1 innings.
 
Brennan Stobbs (1-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs on two hits in 0.2 innings. Austin Ziance started and threw 6.0 innings giving up two runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
 
Nick Bonnizzio had three hits in the game for the Pioneers.
 
The second game was close for eight innings. Leading 3-2 heading into the ninth, the Purple Raiders exlploded for six runs in their final at bat to blow the game open.
 
Mount Union plated a run in the first and second innings. Marietta answered with two in the bottom of the second. Thomson Babineau and Jeremy Tonelli each drove in a run with RBI singles.
 
The Purple Raiders took the lead, 3-2, in the eighth. Johnny Castello reached on an infield error, but still picked up the RBI as Alex Stegman scored on the play.
 
Tsouras delivered the big blow in the ninth with a bases loaded, three-run double. The Purple Raiders ended up sending 10 batters to the plate in the rally.
 
Chris Phillips (1-0) got the win in relief pitching 4.0 shutout innings. Lehman started and worked 5.0 innings giving up two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
 
Jacob Rocky started for the Pioneers and threw 6.0 innings. He allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits with five strikeouts. Cooper Fiehrer (0-2) took the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits in 2.2 innings. He walked three and struck out four.
 
Tonelli was the lone Pioneer with two hits in the game.
 
Marietta plays a single nonconference game at Wittenberg University on Wednesday (Mar. 26) at 6:00 p.m.