Etta Express defeat Waynesburg (Pa.) 4-2 in extra innings
Guerrera sacrifice fly delivers winning run

WAYNESBURG, Pa. — It took 10 innings, but the Marietta College baseball team picked up a 4-2 road victory against Waynesburg (Pa.) Monday afternoon (Mar. 27) in a contest that was added to make up for a cancelled game from last week.

The Pioneers (9-5), who were looking to bounce back from a sub par performance against Seton Hill on Sunday, found themselves trailing 2-0 after the first inning against the Yellow Jackets (9-6-1).

Waynesburg was able to get to Marietta's senior ace Mike DeMark for two runs on two hits in the first innings. DeMark, however, would limit the Yellow Jackets to two hits over the next seven innings, giving the Pioneers time to eventually draw even in the ninth.

Marietta plated its first run in the third inning, when junior Ryan Eschbaugh led off with a single and scored from first on a two-out double to left field by sophomore Tony Piconke.

It was Eschbaugh again who started the rally in the ninth inning. He opened the frame with a bunt single and advanced to second when the pitcher threw the ball away on the play. Senior Lee Guerrera followed with a bunt single of his own, moving Eschbaugh to third base. Junior Ryan Belanger was next to the plate, and he delivered a RBI single up the middle to score Eschbaugh with the tying run.

Freshman Ryan Dennick relieved DeMark, who struck out nine, after eight innings and shutdown Waynesburg in the ninth.

Marietta used the momentum from its half of the ninth to add two runs in the tenth to take a 4-2 lead. Senior Chris Hendricks opened the inning with a walk and senior Justin Steranka followed by reaching on an error. Freshman Josh Spicer, who entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth, sacrificed both runners up a base with a bunt. Eschbaugh was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, bringing Guerrera to the plate. Guerrera was able to get a ball to the outfield, deep enough to score Hendricks with the go ahead run.

Marietta added an insurance run with a double steal; Steranka stole home when Eschbaugh stole second.

Dennick (2-1) worked his way out of some trouble in the bottom of the tenth to preserve the 4-2 win, his second of the season.

Marietta out hit Waynesburg 10-to-6 in the win, while both teams committed two errors.

Eschbaugh finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Guerrera and Belanger added two hits in the win.

The Etta Express will return to action Wednesday (Mar. 29), when they welcome regional foe Allegheny (Pa.) to Pioneer Park for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.