Etta Express go 1-1 with Heidelberg to snap 13-game win streak

Apr. 9, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio - The Etta Express tasted defeat for the first time since the final day of its spring trip to Florida (Mar 12), when Marietta split a doubleheader with Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) rival Heidelberg Saturday (Apr. 9). The Pioneers took advantage of a first inning blunder to win game one 3-2, but had no such luck in the second contest and Heidelberg claimed the 7-2 victory. Marietta falls to 18-4-1 overall and 5-1 in the OAC, while Heidelberg now stands at 8-9 overall and 2-2 in Conference play.

The Pioneers are thankful to come away with a split, as the Student Princes kept them off balance all afternoon. Marietta was able to plate two runs in the first inning of game one because a two-out error by Heidelberg's right fielder kept the inning alive. Freshman Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp, MI/Clintondale), who reached on a single, scored on the error, which came off the bat of junior Justin Steranka (Pittsburgh, PA/Mt. Lebanon). Steranka was able to make his way to third base on the play and then score on a John Sciullo (Bethel Park, PA) double, giving Marietta an early 2-0 advantage.

Heidelberg plated two runs of its own in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2. The Student Princes began the inning with four straight singles, which scored one run. They plated their final run of the game with a sacrifice fly later that inning.

Senior Chris Sidick (Cecil, PA/Canon McMillan) once again proved to be the difference maker Saturday afternoon, as he lined a home run to right field in the fifth to give MC a 3-2 lead, which turned out to be the winning margin.

Senior Mike Mooney (Pittsburgh, PA/Shady Side Academy) allowed two runs on six hits in 6.3 innings to pick up his eighth straight win to open the year. Mooney walked one and fanned four. Junior Mike DeMark (Jeanette, PA/Penn-Trafford) got the final two outs to pick up his first save of 2005.

Seven different Pioneers had hits in the win, four of them were doubles. Ryan Gelhaus suffered the loss for Heidelberg, falling to 1-4 on the spring.

Heidelberg took the momentum from inning one of game two and never relinquished it, resulting in a 7-2 victory for the visiting team. The Student Princes took advantage of four Pioneers errors in the first four innings to stake itself to a 6-0 lead.

Marietta scored its first run on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Ryan Belanger (Coldwater, MI) in the fifth, while Heidelberg added another run in the seventh. The Pioneers tried to rally in the seventh, but managed just one run and the Student Princes left with a 7-2 win.

Senior Justin Papania (Butler, PA) took the loss, his first ever at Pioneer Park. The righthander was tagged for six runs (two earned) on six hits in 3.6 innings. Papania (3-2) walked one and struck out one. DeMark relieved the senior and gave up one run on three hits in the final 3.3 innings. The junior walked two and fanned four.

Sidick and juniors Jarrod Klausman (Altoona, PA) and Chris Hendricks (Little Hocking/Warren) each had two hits for the Pioneers, who managed just seven total in the loss.

Chad Albright picked up the win, his second of the year. Jeff Long pitched the final 2.6 innings in the victory.

Marietta will look to start a new win streak Tuesday (Apr. 12) when it travels to Malone for a JV/Varsity doubleheader. The Varsity game begins at 1 p.m., with the reserve game following at 4 p.m. In addition, the Pioneers will play host to Ashland Thursday (Apr. 14) in a JV/Varsity twinbill. First pitch of the JV game Thursday is slated for 4 p.m., with the Varsity to follow at 7 p.m.