LEXINGTON, S.C. — No. 20 Marietta College completed the three-game sweep of No. 17 SUNY Cortland in convincing fashion with an 18-2 thrashing of the Red Dragons Saturday (March 11) afternoon. The Pioneers improve to 8-4 overall, while Cortland falls to 5-6 on the season.
 
Marietta jumped on top with three runs in the first inning and never looked back. The Pioneers had 15 hits in the game, including a trio of home runs, as six different hitters had multiple hits in the game.
 
Sophomore Zach Marzetz (1-0) started on the mound for Marietta and worked the first 4.0 innings for the win. He allowed two runs on two hits with six strikeouts. Coley Yeager and Forrest Havanis each tossed 2.0 shutout innings and Braden Shepherd threw the ninth.
 
Brett Carson and Kail Hill each delivered a sacrifice fly in Marietta's three-run first inning. Cortland responded with a pair of runs in the third off a two-run home run from Adam Mieczkowski.
 
The Etta Express immediately responded with a four spot in the top of fourth. Hill led off with a single and stole second. Following a strikeout. Matthew Busby singled down the right field line and the Cortland's Mitchell Kelly miss played the ball allowing Busby to go to third. Kelly tried to get Busby at third but his throw was wild and Busby scampered home with the second run of the frame.
 
Nick Bonnizzio singled and moved to third on a single from Alex Richter. The Pioneers executed a perfect double steal with Richter taking second and Bonnizzio sliding safely in at home. Richter then stole third causing Cortland to intentionally walk Carson. The Red Dragons picked Carson off first base but he stayed alive long enough to allow Richter to score making it 6-2.
 
Cole Rieman added an RBI double in the fifth and then the Pioneers put the game out of reach with six more runs in the seventh. Ty Davis led off with a solo home run to center field. Trent Valentine and Rieman singled and Bonnizzio was hit by a pitch loading the bases with two outs. Richter smashed the ball of the fence in right center and circled the bases for an inside the park grand slam. Carson followed with a solo shot over the right center fence for a 14-2 Pioneer lead.
 
Marietta loaded the bases again in the eighth and Valentine scored on a catcher's interference call. Carson followed with a three-run double to the wall in left center for an 18-2 lead.
 
Bryan Bernard (0-1) started and took the loss for Cortland. He worked one third of an inning and was charged with three runs on two hits. The Red Dragons used seven pitchers in the game with Xander Payne throwing the final 2.0 innings.
 
Carson led the Pioneer offensive attack with three hits, a double, home run and five runs batted in. Richter was 2-for-4 with the grand slam and four RBI, while Davis had two hits including a home run. Bonnizzio, Rieman and Busby each had two hits as well.
 
Marietta returns home to host the BSN SPORTS Invitational March 16-19 at Pioneer Park. The Pioneers play New Jersey City University on Friday (March 17) at 5:15 p.m.