Etta Express splits doubleheader with Seton Hill (Pa.)
Eisenberg leads Marietta to a 3-2 victory in first game

MARIETTA, Ohio — After a days of delay, the eighth-ranked Marietta College baseball team hosted NAIA Seton Hill (Pa.) for its 2006 home opener Sunday (Mar. 26) afternoon at Pioneer Park. The Pioneers (8-5) defeated the Griffins (10-11) 3-2 in the first game but fell 7-3 in the nightcap.

Junior Mike Eisenberg (3-0) continued to look sharp on the hill for Marietta in the opener, as he allowed just three hits in the complete-game victory. The lengthy right-hander was dominant in every inning but the fifth, when Seton Hill plated two runs on two hits. Only one run was earned. The reigning OAC Pitcher of the Week struck out seven and walked just one in the win.

Marietta took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Tony Piconke reached on a one-out double and scored when junior Joe Litke singled through the right side.

The Pioneers added another run in the third. Piconke, senior Jarrod Klausman and Litke strung together back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases, and sophomore Dominick Winters delivered a sacrifice fly to score Piconke.

After the Griffins tied the game, 2-2, in the fifth, Marietta regained the advantage for good in the sixth. Junior Ryan Eschbaugh led off with a single and hustled to second when the center fielder bobbled the ball. He scored from second base, when junior Ryan Belanger followed with a RBI double.

Marietta finished with nine hits in the win. Litke went 3-for-3, while Piconke finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Coach Brian Brewer was hoping the victory would carry some momentum over into the nightcap, but Seton Hill's Rick Austin kept Marietta's bats off balanced throughout and his offense broke out for seven runs to lead the visiting Griffins to a 7-3 victory.

Freshman Jason Baumler (2-1) was given the start and he was roughed up for seven runs (three earned) on 10 hits in 6.1 innings.

The Griffins jumped out 1-0 in the top of the first behind a two-out double by Steve Gumpf. Marietta quickly tied the game in its half of the frame, when Belanger opened with a singled and later scored on a wild pitch.

Seton Hill erupted for four runs on three hits in the third inning to take control of the game. Marietta added its second run of the game in the fifth, when senior Lee Guerrera singled and scored on a Piconke two-out single up the middle.

The Griffins added two more runs in the top of the seventh and the Etta Express could just get one in its half, giving Seton Hill the split with a 7-3 win. Klausman had a RBI single in the last inning.

Seton Hill out hit Marietta 10-7 in the second game and was able to take advantage of three Pioneer errors. Belanger and Litke each finished with a pair of hits in the loss.

Marietta will look to regroup when it travels to Greensburg, Pa. for a single nine-inning game with Waynesburg College Monday (Mar. 27) at 3 p.m. The game, which can be heard on WMOA-AM 1490 or mariettaonline.com, was just added Saturday afternoon.