Marietta baseball wins home opener 8-1 over previously unbeaten Dubuque

Mar. 18, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio – The 2005 home schedule started off on the right foot for the Etta Express. The weather was beautiful at Pioneer Park, Marietta played errorless baseball and its offense produced all afternoon, resulting in an 8-1 victory over visiting Dubuque (IA). The win improves the Pioneers' record to 6-3-1 this spring, while the Spartans (8-1) suffered their first loss of the season.

Marietta jumped on top with two runs in the first inning. Senior Chris Sidick (Cecil, PA/Canon McMillan) led off with a single. With one out, Sidick stole second and then third. Sophomore Ryan Belanger (Coldwater, MI) walked and then picked up a stolen base of his own. Both scored on a Jarrod Klausman (Altoona, PA) shot to right, which was misplayed by the left fielder. It was the first of the Spartans' seven errors on the afternoon.

Dubuque plated a run in the third off Pioneers' starter Mike Mooney (Pittsburgh, PA/Shady Side Academy), but the Pioneers added single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and three runs in the seventh to pull away with the seven-run victory.

Junior Justin Steranka (Pittsburgh, PA/Mt. Lebanon) tripled and scored Marietta's run in the fourth, while Belanger scored on a Klausman double in the fifth. The Pioneers plated their run in the sixth when junior Chris Hendricks (Little Hocking/Warren) singled and scored on an error.

Freshman Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp, MI/Clintondale) got things started with a triple in the seventh. He scored on a single by Klausman, who then crossed the plate on a double by sophomore John Sciullo (Bethel Park, PA). Freshman Zach Welch (Vincent/Warren) drove in the final run of the game, pinch runner Joe Zimmerman (Gambrills, MD/Arundel), with a single.

Mooney worked 6.6 innings to pick up his third win of the year. He allowed one run on five hits, striking out five and walking four. Sophomores Derek Cummings (Tuscarawas/Indian Valley) and Mike Eisenberg (Coral Gables, FL/Bullis) combined to get the final seven outs to secure the win.

Dubuque's Timothy Kinney (2-1) suffered the loss. He gave up five runs on eight hits in five innings.

The Pioneers will return to action tomorrow (Mar. 19), when they face the Thiel Tomcats at 1 p.m. Dubuque will battle Thiel before MC's game; first pitch is slated for 10 a.m.