MARIETTA, Ohio — The No. 1 Etta Express stayed on track for the Ohio Athletic Conference regular season championship with a 6-0 and 6-1 doubleheader sweep of visiting Otterbein University Saturday (April 30) afternoon in front of a 13th annual Community Day crowd on Alumni Weekend at Don Schaly Stadium. [Game 1 Box Score] [Game 2 Box Score]

Marietta College improved its overall record to 29-3 and moved to 13-1 in the league standings. Otterbein University fell to 16-20 overall and 7-9 in the Conference. The Pioneers, who are now 11-0 at home, also extended their lead in the OAC standings to three games over second place Heidelberg University after the Student Princes split a twin bill with Capital University Saturday.

Junior Brian Gasser (New Philadelphia/Indian Valley) continued his dominance over the opposition by pitching a four-hit shutout in the opener. Gasser scattered four walks and struck out nine while improving his season record to 9-0 and lowering his ERA to 0.98.

The Pioneer offense, which finished with nine hits, got the scoring started with three unearned runs in its first at-bat. Marietta's first two batters reached on errors before junior Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance) laced a two-run triple down the right field line. Sophomore Aaron Hopper (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg) then drove in Saunders with a RBI groundout.

The Etta Express extended its advantage to 4-0 in the second when sophomore Braden Park (Oxford/Talawanda) delivered a RBI double to plate classmate Evan Brockmeier (Marietta/Marietta).

Marietta capped the scoring in the third when Brockmeier hit a RBi single and Park followed with another RBI double.

Saunders finished 3-for-3, while Brockmeier and Park both went 2-for-3 in the victory.

Junior Austin Blaski (Pandora/Gilboa) threw six strong innings to take the win in game two. Blaski (7-2) scattered just one run on five hits and struck out seven.

Senior Mark Williams (Fayetteville/Perry) threw two scoreless frames and struck out one, before junior closer Kyle Lindquist (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) struck out three straight in the ninth to seal the 6-1 win.

Marietta took advantage of another Otterbein miscue to plate three unearned runs again in the first frame. A pair Pioneers scored on a throwing error by the pitcher before senior Casey Levens (Dayton/Centerville) drilled a RBI single to right.

Hopper extended the lead to 4-0 with a RBI double in the fifth.

Otterbein scraped across its only run of the doubleheader on a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Marietta added two insurance runs when junior Kirby Becker (South Euclid/St. Ignatius) came through with a two-run single in the eighth.

Saunders continued his hot hitting with three more hits in four at-bats. Grilliot and Park both contributed a pair in the Pioneers' 12-hit attack.

Marietta can wrap up the OAC regular season title and the right to host the OAC Tournament with a pair of victories against John Carroll University Sunday (May 1). First pitch at Don Schaly Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.