Seniors DeMark and Steranka lead Marietta over Montclair State and into winner's bracket final
'Etta Express will battle Chapman at 8:45 p.m. for spot in Championship game

May 28, 2006
APPLETON, Wisconsin — The Marietta College baseball team has had to clear its share of hurdles this year, with weather being a key obstacle over the Pioneers’ run through the playoffs during the last three weeks. Saturday (May 27) night was another obstacle, as the game was delayed twice because of weather and finally postponed until Sunday (May 28) morning. Even a 12-hour delay could not slow down the ‘Etta Express as, behind the right arm of senior Mike DeMark (Jeanette, Pa./Penn-Trafford), they avenged an early-season loss by taking down Montclair State (N.J.), 7-4, when it mattered most - in the NCAA Division III World Series at Fox Cities Stadium.

With the win, Marietta (41-11) remains in the winner's bracket in pursuit of its fourth national title in its 18th appearance in the DIII national finals. The Pioneers will face Chapman University (33-11) later Sunday at 8:45 p.m. in the winner's bracket final, with the winner advancing to Tuesday's final games assured of a top-two national finish.

Marietta struck first blood in the bottom of the first inning Saturday night, when senior Justin Steranka (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) drilled a three-run home run deep over the left field fence. Junior Ryan Belanger (Coldwater, Mich.) and senior Jarrod Klausman (Altoona, Pa.) both walked and scored in the frame.

Despite being surrounded by lightning, the Pioneers went back to work in the second inning, scoring two more runs. Senior Chris Hendricks (Little Hocking/Warren Local) led off the second with a double and junior Ryan Eschbaugh (Marietta) followed with a walk. Hendricks was then able to score and Eschbaugh moved to third when a Belanger sacrifice bunt was thrown away. Klausman later delivered a sacrifice fly to score Eschbaugh with the fifth run of the game.

DeMark, meanwhile was throwing darts through the first three innings, striking out seven of the first 12 Red Hawks that he faced. However, following his seventh strikeout, which ended the top of the third, the game was postponed until Sunday at 11 a.m. because of a lightning storm that eventually brought heavy rains and even some hail.

The Pioneers went to bed knowing that they would wake up Sunday with a 5-0 lead and just six and a half innings to play. What the coaching staff didn’t know, however, was whether or not DeMark would be able to continue. That question was answered when the team arrived at the park and DeMark said emphatically that he was ready to go.

DeMark said he wasn't worried about the overnight delay; he was more worried about the warm and humid weather conditions that greeted the two teams on Sunday morning.

"The heat this morning was bad on me, especially after last night and the delays - pitch an inning, come in and sit for 45 minutes and go back out there again," DeMark said.

DeMark, who earned the save in Marietta’s game Friday night, immediately picked up where he left off, mowing down Red Hawk after Red Hawk through five innings of hitless ball. Montclair did scrape across a run in the fifth, when DeMark walked the first two batters. The first walk eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to make the score 5-1 in favor of the Pioneers.

Marietta plated a run of its own in the fifth to extend the lead back up to five runs, 6-1. Klausman led off with a single, extending his hit streak to 20 games. Senior Lee Guerrera (Wolcott, Conn.) then came through with a two-out single to drive in Klausman.

The circumstances of the weekend finally got to DeMark in the sixth, as he gave up three straight singles, the first Red Hawk hits of the game. Marietta turned a 6-3 double play with the base loaded to help out the senior, but a run scored on the play. Montclair’s fourth hit off DeMark in the inning plated another run, making the score 6-3. DeMark ended the rally with a strikeout, his 11th of the game, which tied his single-season high. It may also be his last pitch thrown in the pin stripes, as he left the game after the sixth with a three-run lead. If it is his last pitch, the 2004 All-American would finish his collegiate career with an eye-popping 31-3 record.

DeMark, who also walked five batters, saw his team score another run in the bottom of the sixth, before pitching coach Tyler Mott sent freshman Jason Baumler (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill) in to close out the final three frames. Belanger led off the sixth with a double and scored on a Joe Litke (Windsor, Conn.) sacrifice fly to left field.

Baumler allowed one run on four hits of the final three innings to pick up the save, his second of the year. The Pioneers’ defense, led by Belanger, made some spectacular plays behind him.

Marietta out-hit Montclair nine to eight in the win. Steranka went 2-for-4 with a home run, while Eschbaugh finished 2-for-3.

All of the Pioneers' action can be heard live on WMOA-AM 1490 and mariettaonline.com. Live statistics are also available on the World Series site.