Etta Express begin OAC play with two victories over Capital

Mar. 30, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Etta Express took its show on the road this afternoon (Mar. 30), opening Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play against Capital. Marietta improved to 14-3-1, 2-0 in the OAC with 10-4 and 3-0 victory over the Crusaders. The Pioneers, ranked No. 10 in the latest ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Poll, have now won nine straight.

Marietta used two-out lightning to strike down the Crusaders in game one, as all 10 of its runs crossed the plate with two outs. The Etta Express trailed 1-0 after one inning, when Capital scored an unearned run of Marietta starter Mike Mooney (Pittsburgh, PA/Shady Side Academy). The Pioneers responded with three runs in the second and six in the fourth to build a 9-1 advantage.

Senior Chris Sidick (Cecil, PA/Canon McMillan) had the big shot of the game, a three-run home run in the third.

After Marietta added a run on a double steal in the sixth, Capital responded with three runs of Pioneers' reliever Derek Cummings (Tuscarawas/Indian Valley). Junior Bill Bakos (Framingham, MA) pitched the ninth to preserve Mooney's sixth win of the spring.

Mooney (6-0) scattered three hits and struck out six in his four innings of work. Cummings allowed three runs on five hits in two innings, and Bakos gave up one hit and fanned two in his inning of work. Erik Williams suffered the loss for Capital, giving up nine runs on 10 hits in 2.6 innings of work.

Offensively, Sidick finished 2-for-4 with a home run, triple and four RBI. Sophomore Ryan Belanger (Coldwater, MI) finished game one 2-for-2 with three runs scored and a RBI, while junior Chris Hendricks (Little Hocking/Warren) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI. Sophomore John Sciullo (Bethel Park, PA) and freshman Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp, MI/Clintondale) also had two hits in the win.

The Etta Express totaled 13 hits in game one, while Capital (9-7-1, 0-2 OAC) had nine. Ryan Hutchison had three of the Crusaders' hits in the loss.

Marietta's offense struggled slightly in game two, but junior Mike DeMark (Jeanette, PA/Penn-Trafford) was able to shutout Capital and the Etta Express won 3-0.

DeMark (3-0) allowed just three hits in the complete game victory. He struck out three and walked two in the win.

The Pioneers immediately took a 1-0 lead in the second game when Sidick led off with a solo home run to left center. Sidick picked up his second RBI of the game with a bases loaded walk, scoring junior Jarrod Klausman (Altoona, PA), in the second. Marietta added its final run in the sixth, when Piconke drew a bases loaded walk to score junior Lee Guerrera (Wolcott, CT).

Capital's Dustin Tyler took the loss in game two after allowing two runs on four hits in 3.0 innings of work.

The Etta Express will continues it OAC schedule on the road Saturday (Apr. 2). First pitch of the Wilmington doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m.