MARIETTA, Ohio — No. 7 ranked Marietta College swept an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader from Heidelberg University Tuesday (May 11) evening assuring the Pioneers of a top-two seed and first round bye in the upcoming OAC Tournament.
Turner Hill lined a bases-loaded, walk-off line drive to the wall in right field in the bottom of the ninth inning giving the Etta Express a 7-6 come from behind victory in game one. The Pioneers completed the sweep with a 12-2 seven inning mercy rule win in the second game.
Marietta improves to 28-4 overall and 26-3 in the OAC. Heidelberg falls to 19-15-1 on the season and 16-14-1 in conference games.
Currently in first place in the league standings, the Pioneers wrap up the regular season with a four-game series against the University of Mount Union this weekend. The Purple Raiders sit in second place in the OAC standings with a 25-7 league record.
Heidelberg took advantage of a Pioneer error in the top of the first inning to grab a 2-0 lead in the first game. The Student Princes pushed the margin to four runs, 6-2, through seven innings.
The Pioneers plated two runs in the eighth inning to start the comeback. Pinch hitter Nate Rentas reached base on a one-out walk and was then lifted for pinch runner Kail Hill. Following a flyout, Turner Hill doubled to left center moving his brother to third base. Damian Yenzi smacked a single to center field scoring both Hills and cutting the HU lead in half, 6-4.
Trailing by two heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Logan Vietmeier was hit by a pitch to start the rally. Zach Boyd walked, and Brady Cottom sacrificed the runners to second and third. Trent Castle ripped a double down the left field line scoring both runners and tying the game, 6-6.
Dylan Albright and Jared Weiss each drew a walk loading the bases with one out for Turner Hill. Hill lined a 1-1 pitch to the wall in right field for the game winner.
Albright (1-0) picked up the win in relief. He threw 2.1 shutout innings giving up two hits, walking one and striking out four. Nicklaus Brown started and worked 6.1 innings. He allowed five runs, three earned, on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Griffin Malick was charged with one run on one hit in a third of an inning.
Cameron Deemer (2-3) took the loss for Heidelberg. Deemer pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up three runs on two hits. He walked three and struck out one. Jake Hall started and threw 4.0 innings. He allowed one run on four hits. Ryan Keane gave up one unearned run, while John Hassler allowed two runs in middle relief.
Turner Hill and Yenzi each had three hits for the Pioneers. Yenzi drove in three runs. Castle finished 2-for-5 with a pair of runs batted in.
Marietta sent 13 batters to the plate in the first inning of game two scoring eight runs. The Pioneers added three more runs in the third and then Holderbach drove in the final run in the seventh ending the game on a 10-run rule.
Holderbach finished the game 4-for-5 with a double, three-run home run and seven RBI. Turner Hill was 4-for-4 with three runs scored, while Vietmeier had two hits in the game including a three-run home run to straight away center field.
Gino Sabatine (7-0) started and got the win. He worked 2.0 innings and allowed one unearned run on one hit. Dalton Wiggins threw 2.0 innings and gave up one run on one hit and struck out four. Trent Valentine got his first save of the season after throwing the final 3.0 innings. He allowed no runs on one hit with one walk and six strikeouts.
Cayden Rollins (0-2) started and took the loss for Heidelberg. He allowed seven runs, four earned, on five hits without recording an out. Three other Student Princes pitched in relief.
Marietta travels to Alliance on Saturday (May 15) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Mount Union. The Purple Raiders visit Pioneer Park on Sunday (May 16) at 1 p.m. to close out the regular season.