Marietta splits doubleheader with Texas Wesleyan on final day in Texas
Etta Express drop game one, 3-1, but win game two, 2-1, in extra innings

March 16, 2007
FORT WORTH, Texas — Sophomore Cameron Cimino (Boardman) and freshmen Chris Beatty (Seven Fields, Pa./Hampton) and Nate Eschbaugh (Marietta) made sure that the No. 7 Marietta College baseball team's 20-hour trip home would be slightly more comfortable. The trio played a major role in the Etta Express' 2-1, nine-inning victory over NAIA host Texas Wesleyan in game two of Friday (March 16) afternoon's doubleheader. The victory enabled Marietta to split the twinbill after losing the opener 3-1 and return home with a 7-3 record.

Friday was a stark contrast to many of the Pioneers' games at the Abilene Classic, as it featured two pitching duels. In game one, Marietta sent its ace, sophomore Jason Baumler (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill) to the hill against Texas Wesleyan’s Ryan Riddle, who, like Baumler, entered 2-0.

The Rams (16-4) scored the first run of the game in the second, when Taylor Miller led off with a single, and Billie Hicks followed with a double down the right field line. Miller scored when Chris Palmer grounded out to second base.

The Pioneers tied the game in the fifth. Junior Dom Winters (Washington, Pa.) singled with one out before being replaced by pinch runner Mike Basic (Parma/Holy Name), who advanced to second on a Justin Merryman (New Philadelphia) ground out to shortstop. Senior Ryan Eschbaugh (Marietta) followed with a RBI single up the middle to score Basic.

Marietta's lead was short-lived, however, as Texas Wesleyan answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to complete the scoring; both runs scored on a two-out Jason Diaz triple. The Rams out hit the Pioneers 6-5 in the game, which saw no player have more than one hit.

Baumler suffered the loss to fall to 2-1 after allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two in four 2/3 innings. Freshman Tyler Penwell (Washington Court House) worked the final one 1/3 innings, scattering two hits with one strike out. Riddle earned the victory; he worked six innings, giving up one run on four hits while striking out five, before giving way to Hayden Lackey, who struck out two and gave up one hit before earning the save, his seventh of the spring.

Runs also came at a premium in the nightcap, which saw the Rams out hit the Etta Express 9-5. In fact, it took extra innings for Marietta to squeak out the 2-1 victory.

Beatty, who got the start behind the plate in game two, doubled and scored on a Ryan Belanger (Coldwater, Mich.) ground out in the second inning to give Marietta a 1-0 advantage.

The Rams took advantage of three Pioneer errors in the fifth inning to tie the game at 1-1. Taylor Miller started the frame with a single off Merryman, who was making his third start of the year. Miller advanced to second on an error and to third on a sacrifice bunt, before scoring on another error. The second error knocked Merryman out of the game after allowing the single unearned run on four hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Junior Derek Cummings (Tuscarawas/Indian Valley) relieved Merryman. Despite helping the runner move up two bases with a throwing error and wild pitch, respectively, Cummings got out of the inning without allowing another run. He did so by working a first-and-third play to perfection, cutting off the throw to second base from the catcher and then getting the man at third out after a rundown.

Texas Wesleyan tried to win the game in regulation by stealing home with one out in the sixth, but Beatty was able to make the tag before the runner touched the plate and preserve the tie, which held up until Marietta scored a run in the top of the ninth.

In the ninth, Cimino led off with a pinch-hit single to left center. He moved to second on a Jeremy Reese (Massillon/Washington) sacrifice bunt and to third on a Winters' ground out. With Cimino 90 feet from home, Beatty, who finished 2-for-4, sent a single to left field, allowing him to score the game-winning run.

Nate Eschbaugh shut down the Rams over the final three 2/3 innings to earn the win, the first of his Pioneer career. Texas Wesleyan did manage to get a man to third base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Eschbaugh, who allowed just three hits, got a fly out to center field to end the game.

Caleb Thomas (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing one run on two hits in three innings of relief. Weston Wood started the game and allowed one run on three hits, while walking three and striking out four in six innings.

The Etta Express return to action Tuesday (March 20), when LaRoche (Pa.) visits Don Schaly Stadium for Marietta's home opener. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. The action can be heard locally on WMOA-AM 1490 and online at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html.