No. 19 Marietta powers its way past Ohio Wesleyan 9-6
Hendricks and Guerrera homer in victory

Apr. 6, 2006
DELAWARE, Ohio – The No. 19 Marietta College baseball team picked up a key 9-6 non conference regional road victory over Ohio Wesleyan Thursday (Apr. 6) at Littick Field, just off the Battling Bishops’ campus.

With the victory, Marietta improved to 15-5 overall, while Ohio Wesleyan fell to 14-8 on the spring.

It look like the Pioneers and Battling Bishops would be in for a slugfest early on, as both teams plated three runs in their half of the first inning.

Marietta’s Ryan Belanger walked and score the team’s first run on a single by Justin Steranka. Jarrod Klausman, who also singled in the innings, came across on a passed ball to score the second run. A Joe Litke sacrifice fly enabled Steranka to score the third run of the frame.

Freshman Scott Dunn took the hill for his first work of the day with a three-run cushion. Ohio Wesleyan, however, plated three runs (one earned) on two hits to tie the game at 3-3.

After a rough first inning, Dunn settled down, allowing no runs on four hits over the next five innings.

The Pioneers, meanwhile, broke the tie with a three-run third inning. Klausman, Steranka and Litke all had RBIs in the rally.

Marietta’s Chris Hendricks made it 8-3 in the fourth when he drilled a two-run home run, his third of the year, over the fence in left field. Devin Ward, who reached on an error, scored on the play.

Lee Guerrea cracked his first home run of the spring, a solo shot, in the fifth to give Marietta a 9-3 advantage.

Ohio Wesleyan rallied for three runs in the ninth off Pioneers’ reliever Mike DeMark, but Mike Eisenberg came in to get the final out and secure the win.

Dunn walked three and struck out one to improve to 2-2 on the season. Alex Sedam worked a scoreless inning of relief, before DeMark took the hill in the eighth. DeMark allowed three runs on five hits, while striking out three and walking one in 1 2/3 innings of work.

Marietta’s offense finished with eight hits in the game, while Ohio Wesleyan totaled 11. Hendricks, Klausman and Steranka each had a pair of hits, while Hendricks, Steranka and Litke all had two RBIs in the win.

Joey McDaniel took the loss for Ohio Wesleyan, allowing six runs (five earned) on three hits in three innings. Brandon Williams and Tom Bottichio each had three hits for the Battling Bishops in the loss.

Marietta will return to action Saturday (Apr. 8), when it travels to Tiffin to take on Ohio Athletic Conference rival Heidelberg in an important doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.