PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida — The No. 24 ranked Marietta College baseball team split a pair of games Monday (March 9) in the Snowbird Baseball Classic. The Pioneers defeated Susquehanna University, 5-3, and lost to Swarthmore College by the score of 6-5.

The Etta Express is now 5-1 on the season. Susquehanna falls to 1-4 overall and Swarthmore improves their season record to 6-2.

Marietta led start to finish in the first game of the day. Drew Holderbach reached on a one-out single in the bottom of the first and then came around to score on an RBI double off the bat of Alex Page.

After the River Hawks tied the game with a run in the top of third, the Pioneers struck for two in the bottom of the frame for a 3-2 lead. Page picked up his second RBI with a single that plated Damian Yenzi, who reached on a single and moved to second on an errant pick-off attempt. Page stole second and then scored on a single by Tate Engle.

Nicklaus Brown (2-0) had his second quality start of the season working six innings for the win. He allowed one run on five hits and struck out eight. Gino Sabatine threw two innings and gave up one run on one hit. He walked one and struck out three. Sam Mathews earned his first save of the season with one inning of work. Mathews allowed a run on two hits and struck out one.

Susquehanna made it 3-2 with a run in the top of the eight. But Marietta answered with two in the bottom of the inning. Catcher Brady Cottom delivered a two-run single to right-center scoring Drew Wilkinson and Seamus Kenneally.

The River Hawks added one in the ninth for the final 5-3 margin.

Tyson Thrush (1-1) started and took the loss throwing six innings and giving up three runs on six hits. He walked four and struck out three. Kyle Sears and Bobby Grigas each pitched in relief for Susquehanna.

Yenzi and Page each had two hits for the Pioneers.

In the second game of the day, Swarthmore jumped out to a 5-0 lead with three runs in the second and one each in the third and fifth innings chasing Marietta starter John Stover from the game.

Stover worked five innings and was charged with five runs, four earned, on eight hits. He walked one and struck out one in the no decision. Griffin Malick threw one inning of shutout relief giving up two hits and striking out two. Isaac Danford (0-1) took the loss giving up one run on two hits with five walks and three strikeouts in three innings of work.

Marietta rallied to tie the game at 5-5 heading into the ninth. The Pioneers plated four runs in the seventh. Yenzi knocked in the first run with a single, Page drove in two with a single and Logan Vietmeier singled through the left side of the infield scoring Holderbach with the fourth run of the inning.

In the eighth, Dylan Albright pinch hit to start the inning and walked. Trent Castle sacrificed him to second and Yenzi followed with a single moving Albright to third. Holderbach grounded to third. Swarthmore got Yenzi at second but the throw to first for the double play was wild allowing Albright to score the tying run. Page fouled out to end the rally.

Swarthmore got a lead-off double to left in the ninth from Cole Beeker. Page just missed running the ball down for an out, but it dropped in for the extra base hit.

Marietta almost got out of the inning unscathed when the sac bunt attempt was right back to Danford keeping Beeker at second. Danford got the next batter to fly out for the second out of the inning. An intentional walk and a traditional base on balls loaded the bases.

The Garnet third baseman Ari Fierer stepped to the plate and hit a chopper to short. Marietta went for the out at second base, but Austin Burgess slid in just ahead of the throw. All hands were safe and Beeker scored the winning run.

Marietta managed to get two runners on in the bottom of the ninth forcing another pitching change for Swarthmore. Zach Camp came on and struck out the first batter he faced to end the game.

Jack Corkery (1-0) got the win in relief for the Garnet. He threw one and two-thirds innings and allowed one run on three hits. Drew McMahan started and worked two innings of shutout ball before turning the game over to Oliver Hicks. Hicks gave up four runs on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts in four and one-third innings.

Yenzi finished 3-for-4 to lead the Pioneer attack. Page and Engle each had two hits in the game, while Page drove in a pair of runs.

Marietta plays the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford on Tuesday (March 10) at 1 p.m.