TIFFIN, Ohio — Marietta College earned a split at Heidelberg University Saturday (April 27) afternoon in Ohio Athletic Conference baseball action. The Student Princes won game one, 2-0, and Marietta took game two, 5-3. The Pioneers are 18-17 overall and 10-6 in the OAC. Heidelberg moves to 21-14 overall and 8-8 in the OAC.
Game one was a pitcher's duel between Marietta's Trent Valentine and Heidelberg's Jackson Powers. Both threw complete games. Valentine (4-3) allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in 8.0 innings. Powers (6-2) tossed 9.0 shutout innings allowing just two hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
Two of Heidelberg's three hits came in the bottom of the third inning. Thomas Sauer led off with an infield single. Three batters later Braedy Limke homered down the left field line for the only two runs of the game.
Nick Bonnizzio accounted for both Pioneer hits in the game with a pair of doubles.
Marietta scored two unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning to salvage the split with a 5-3 victory. The Pioneers scored two runs in the first and one in the third. Heidelberg plated two in the second and tied the game, 3-3, with one in the sixth.
Alex Richter put the Pioneers in front with a two-run home run to right-center in the top of the first inning. He added an RBI single in the third.
Andrew Pokley and Orion Kroah had RBI singles in the second inning for the Student Princes. Limke tied the game with a single to center in the sixth.
Cael Magill led off the ninth for Marietta and reached on an error by the Heidelberg third baseman. Valentine followed and reached safely on an error by the catcher. Magill moved to third and Valentine to second on the error.
Nick Kumor lined a single to right scoring Magill and moving Valentine to third. After Kumor stole second, Diego DeCello struck out for the first out. Bonnizzio grounded to the shortstop who fired home in time for the catcher to tag out Valentine.
Kumor moved to third on the play at the plate. Richter picked up his fourth RBI. Of the game with a single to left scoring Kumor for a 5-3 Pioneer lead.
Heidelberg got a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth. But a ground out and a pick off at first base eliminated the threat.
Gabe Torres (4-1) got the win in relief. He worked the final 3.1 innings and allowed no runs on two hits. Austin Ziance started and gave up two runs on four hits in 3.0 innings. Forrest Havanis threw 2.2 innings and allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts.
Corbin Caplan started on the mound for Heidelberg and allowed three runs on five hits in 4.0 innings. Corey Brafford (4-3) got the loss giving up two unearned runs on three hits with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.
Richter finished 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Bonnizzio had two hits including a double. Valentine also had two hits and a double.
Marietta plays a single nonconference game at Ohio Wesleyan University on Sunday (April 28). First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.