No. 19 Etta Express splits a doubleheader at Muskingum
Second-inning struggles on the mound send Marietta to defeat in nightcap

Apr. 18, 2006
NEW CONCORD, Ohio — The No. 19 Marietta College baseball team finally found a deficit that it could not overcome Tuesday (Apr. 18) afternoon. After coming from behind to defeat the host Muskies 7-4 in the opener for their third straight comeback victory of the year, the Pioneers could not overcome a rough second inning, in which Muskingum scored four runs on just two hits, and fell 5-4 in the nightcap.

With the split, Marietta's win streak ends at 13 games and it falls to 21-6 overall and 7-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Muskingum improved to 17-11 on the year and 4-4 in Conference play. The Pioneers, however, remained tied for first place with Otterbein, who spilt a twinbill, 4-1 & 2-5, with host Wilmington Tuesday afternoon. Marietta and Otterbein will go head-to-head in Westerville on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Marietta held an early 2-0 lead in the opener by scoring a pair of runs in the second inning. Junior Joe Litke (Windsor, Conn.) led off with a double. Sophomore Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp., Mich./Clintondale) followed with a single to move Litke to third. Senior Lee Guerrera (Wolcott, Conn.) then delivered a single up the middle to score Litke and advance Piconke to third base. Junior Ryan Eschbaugh (Marietta) made it four straight hits with a RBI single to center to score Piconke.

Muskingum quickly responded with three runs in its half of the second frame. Freshman starter Ryan Dennick (North Olmsted) allowed four hits in the inning.

The Pioneers tied the game in the fifth, when senior Chris Hendricks (Little Hocking/Warren Local) singled and later scored on a RBI hit to right field by Litke.

The Etta Express took the lead in the next inning, when freshman Tad Thomas (Mansfield/Madison) and Hendricks sandwiched a walk by Piconke. Hendricks picked up two RBI with his double.

Marietta added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Guerrera and Eschbaugh each contributed RBI singles in the inning.

The Muskies threatened and plated a run in the bottom of the seventh, but junior Mike Eisenberg (Coral Gables, Fla./Bullis) came in to retire the only batter he faced and end the rally.

Marietta out hit Muskingum 12-to-10 and overcame three errors to win the game. The Muskies had one error in the loss.

Litke finished 3-for-3, while senior Jarrod Klausman (Altoona, Pa.), Guerrera (two RBI) and Eschbaugh (two RBI) each added a pair of hits. Shawn Galloway went 3-for-4 with two RBI for Muskingum, while three of his teammates had two hits.

Freshman Scott Dunn (Clinton, Pa./Southside) earned the win with 2.3 strong innings in relief of Dennick, who allowed three runs on seven hits, walked four and struck out four. Dunn, who improved to 3-2 on the spring, scattered one run on three hits. Eisenberg got the save, his second of the year.

In game two, Muskingum jumped out to a 5-0 lead with a run in the first and four in the second. The Muskies scored their first run on a throwing error and their final three runs on walks with the bases loaded. Freshman starter Jason Baumler (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill) allowed four runs on three hits in 1.6 innings, before leaving the game after he was hit with a line drive above the hand. Freshman Alex Sedam (North Vernon, Ind./Jennings County) relieved Baumler and walked three straight, before freshman Justin Merryman (New Philadelphia) replaced him and got out of the inning.

A Justin Steranka (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) two-run home run in the fourth pulled Marietta within three runs, 5-2. Klausman, who led off with a single, scored on the home run, Steranka's third of the year.

Marietta scored again in the fifth, when Justin Yager (Marion/Pleasant) walked and later scored on an error.

The Pioneers added another run in the sixth, when Guerrera scored on another error. Marietta eventually loaded the bases in the inning, but Hendricks grounded into an innning-ending fielder's choice to end the rally.

Klausman opened the seventh inning by reaching on a two-base error, but was stranded at third base when the final two Pioneers struck out to end the game.

Muskingum managed just five hits in the win and overcame four errors. Marietta finished with eights hits and had one error in the loss.

Baumler was given the loss and fell to 4-2. Merryman worked a solid 2.6 innings without giving up a hit, while senior Mike DeMark (Jeanette, Pa,/Penn-Trafford) got the final five outs of the game. DeMark struck out three in his first action in since leaving the game with back pains against Heidelberg on April 8. Muskingum freshman starter Karl Stevens went 4.6 innings to earn his first win of the spring.

Klausman had three hits in four at-bats and Guerrera finished 2-for-3 for Marietta in the loss. Galloway added a pair of hits in the second game.

The Pioneers now turn their attention to rival Otterbein, who they will visit on Saturday (Apr. 22) to play a key OAC doubleheader with sole possession of first place on the line. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.