Etta Express knock off Ashland 7-1

Apr. 14, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio - Thursday (Apr. 14) night's game at Pioneer Park featured two teams, one in DII and another in DIII, with its tradition rooted in the efforts of one man - the late Don Schaly. The match-up pitted John Schaly's No. 15 Ashland Eagles against the home Pioneers, who are ranked No. 11 in the nation. Both programs brought storied pasts to their first varsity meeting since 1976. Marietta, however, controlled the game from the start, scoring three runs in the first, and Ashland never seemed comfortable, resulting in a 7-1 victory for the Etta Express.

Marietta's (20-4-1) first frame started with a leadoff single from senior Chris Sidick (Cecil, PA/Canon McMillan). Sidick stole second and scored on a RBI single by freshman Zack Welch (Vincent/Warren). After freshman Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp, MI/Clintondale) singled, sophomore John Sciullo (Bethel Park, PA) drove in Welch with a ground out. Piconke was able to score the third run of the inning, when Ashland could not handle a Ryan Eschbaugh (Marietta) ground ball and Marietta led 3-0 after one.

Ashland (21-11) responded with a run of its own in the second frame by stringing together three straight singles off freshman starter Jeff Feigl (Severn, MD/Arundel).

The Etta Express added three more runs in the fourth when junior Chris Hendricks (Little Hocking/Warren) scored on a balk and Sidick deposited a pitch over the right field wall for a two-run homer, giving Marietta a 6-1 advantage.

Marietta added an insurance run in the seventh when Eschbaugh singled home Piconke. The loss was Ashland's fourth straight, while the Pioneers have now won back-to-back games since losing to Heidelberg Saturday (Apr. 9).

Five Pioneers pitchers combined to scatter nine hits in the win. Junior Mike DeMark (Jeanette, PA/Penn-Trafford) picked up the win to improve to 5-0, giving up two hits in 2.0 innings in relief of Feigl. Feigl allowed one run on four hits and struck out two in 2.0 innings. Seniors Justin Papania (Butler, PA), Bo Cooksey (Atwater/Waterloo) and Mike Mooney (Pittsburgh, PA/Shady Side Academy) combined to shutout the Eagles on three hits over the final five innings.

Both teams totaled nine hits on the night. Ashland committed five errors, while Marietta had one in the win.

Four Pioneers - Sidick, Welch, Piconke and junior Jarrod Klausman (Altoona, PA) - had two hits apiece in the victory.

Ryan Petrich suffered the loss to fall to 5-1 on the spring. Petrich allowed six runs on six hits in 5.0 innings.

Marietta will return to action Saturday (Apr. 16) when it travels to Berea to take on the Baldwin-Wallace Yellow Jackets in a key OAC doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.