19th-ranked Marietta wins a wild one against Big Red in Denison's first night game
Pioneers score eight runs in the eighth to win 15-8

Apr. 4, 2006
GRANVILLE, Ohio — The 19th-ranked Marietta College baseball team visited Denison University for a historical game Tuesday (Apr. 4) evening, as it was the first time a Big Red baseball team played a night game at home. And what would be more fitting in the school's first night game than to use the lights as much as possible. Such was the case Tuesday, as the Pioneers defeated the Big Red, 15-8, in a three hour and fifty-five minute ball game.

With the victory, Marietta improved to 14-5 on the year, while Denison fell to 13-7 overall. The Pioneers are now 46-1 against the Big Red in the series.

The contest was full of fireworks, even after the lighting ceremony. The Pioneers jumped out 2-0 in the top of the first inning, when senior Chris Hendricks and junior Joe Litke had RBIs.

Denison, however, did not trail for long, as it exploded for seven runs on five hits off Marietta freshman starter Jason Baumler, who lasted just two-thirds of an inning. Fellow freshman Ryan Dennick relieved Baumler and allowed one hit before getting the third out.

From that point, Dennick settled in and held the Big Red to one run on four hits over the next six innings, keeping things together until Marietta's offense was able to get things back into the Pioneers' favor. Dennick (4-1) finished with a career-high 12 strikeouts in the victory.

Marietta entered the top of third trailing by five runs, but a five-run inning tied the game at 7-7. Litke picked up two more RBIs with a single, sophomore Tad Thomas added a RBI single and senior Justin Steranka delivered a two-run homer to right field, his second of the year.

Denison scratched across a single run in their half of the sixth on a sacrifice fly to take a slim 8-7 lead.

The Pioneers removed any doubt from the outcome with an eight-run eighth inning. Marietta sent 12 men to the plate and had five hits in the frame. Steranka led off with a single and added a two-run double later in the inning. He scored game-tying run by taking home on a double steal. Hendricks drew a walk with the bases loaded pick up the go-ahead RBI. Sophomore Ryan Belanger scored on the play. Litke also doubled home two more runs, while junior Ryan Eschbaugh singled home a run of his own. Thomas also scored on the Eschbaugh hit, when the left fielder misplayed the ball.

With the 15-8 lead, Marietta Head Coach Brian Brewer sent out junior Mike Eisenberg and freshman Scott Dunn for an inning of work to close out the game.

Overall, Marietta out hit Denison 12-to-11. Both teams had three errors in the game.

Steranka led the Pioneers' offense, finishing 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBI. Litke was one of three Marietta hitters to also add two hits and finished with five RBI.

Mike Hudson (1-2) took the loss for Denison. He allowed three runs on one hit in two-thirds of an inning in relief. Starter Troy Testerman worked five innings and allowed seven runs on five hits in the game.

Marietta will return to action Thursday (Apr. 6) when it visits Ohio Wesleyan, another NCAC school and Mideast rival. The Pioneers and the Battling Bishops will play a single nine-inning game with first pitch set for 3:30 p.m.