Amazing comeback propels Etta Express into Mideast Championship game
Marietta scored four in the ninth to defeat Manchester 10-9

May 19, 2006
TERRE HAUTE, Indiana — No. 23 Marietta College moved one giant step closer to returning to the NCAA Division III World Series Friday (May 19) with a 10-9 comeback victory over Manchester (Ind.) in game nine of the Mideast Regional, which is being hosted by Rose-Hulman (Ind.). The Pioneers trailed 9-6 heading into their final at-bat, but scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to steal the win and advance to Saturday’s championship game.

Marietta, who improved to 38-10, now awaits the winner of the loser’s bracket. That team, which will be either Otterbein, Adrian (Mich.) or Manchester, has to take down the Pioneers twice Friday to prevent them from capturing their 19th Mideast Regional title. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. but may be pushed back depending on the outcome of the rest of Thursday’s action.

Friday’s game was a roller coaster ride for Pioneer fans, as Marietta led 5-2 after five innings, only for the Spartans to take the lead with a six-run sixth inning. Both teams added a run down the stretch to set the stage for the dramatic bottom of the ninth inning.

Freshman Ryan Dennick (North Olmsted) was solid on the mound for Marietta through five innings, allowing just two runs on three hits. He ran into trouble in the sixth, however, as Manchester led off the frame with four straight hits. The fifth batter reached on an error and the sixth followed with another hit. Dennick finally recorded an out on a sacrifice bunt but was replaced by fellow freshman Scott Dunn (Clinton, Pa/Southside), who gave up a hit of his own before getting two ground outs to kill the rally.

Marietta, who had its leadoff runner reach base in seven of the nine innings and scored single runs in the second through sixth frame as well as the eighth, finally got the big inning it needed in the ninth.

Prior to senior Jarrod Klausman (Altoona, Pa.) leading off the final frame, the resonating voice of Mr. William Lee, the Pioneers’ bus driver who is also the most recent addition to the Marietta Baseball family, previewed what was soon to come when he shouted, “Hey. Hey. We are the Pioneers and are here to stay. We never quit. We believe we can do it!"

With a energetic crowd behind him, Klausman started the Pioneers’ final at-bat with a single through the right side. Senior Justin Steranka (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) followed with a high pop up on the left side of the infield that dropped when neither the third baseman nor shortstop could find the ball in the sun. Freshman pinch hitter Justin Merryman (New Philadelphia) made the Spartans pay with a RBI double to right center to score Klausman. Freshman Josh Beebe (Fleming/Warren Local) then picked up a RBI when he reached on an error by the second baseman. Junior Ryan Belanger (Coldwater, Mich.), the next hitter, sent a ground ball to third. The third baseman made a wide throw to second, but Merryman was thrown out trying to score on the play. Beebe was then forced out at third on a ground ball by senior Lee Guerrera (Wolcott, Conn.) for the second out of the inning. Sophomore Dominick Winters (Washington, Pa.) followed with pinch hit single just inside the left field foul line and over a diving third baseman’s glove to drive in Belanger with the game-tying run. Manchester then intentionally walked senior Chris Hendricks (Little Hocking/Warren Local) to load the bases and bring sophomore Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp., Mich./Clintondale) to the plate with two outs. Piconke completed the comeback by working a five-pitch walk, which forced in Guerrera with the winning run.

Overall, Marietta out-hit Manchester 13 to 11. Sophomore Tom Doty (Mentor) finished 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI. Hendricks and Steranka each added a pair of hits in the win.

Freshman Tim Knowlton (Greenwich/Mapleton) got the win, his first of the year, after allowing one run on one hit in the top of the ninth.

Dennick’s final numbers included eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits with three walks and four strike outs in 5.3 innings. Dunn scattered two hits in 2.6 innings of relief.

“The men showed a lot of character today in battling back,” said Head Coach Brian Brewer. “Opponents know that when they are playing Marietta the game isn't’ over until the final out is recorded, and we proved once again that we will play hard every pitch. The fans that traveled here have really shown their support and we hope that many more can make the trip tomorrow for what we expect to be an exciting finish to the Tournament.”

"What a great win for Marietta and the Ohio Athletic Conference," said Otterbein Head Coach George Powell, who witnessed the comeback from the reserved seating behind the backstop as he was waiting for his team to take on Adrian in an elimination game.

All of the Pioneers’ action during Championship Day of the Mideast Regional can be heard live on WMOA-AM 1490 and on mariettaonline.com.